John Anderson: Conversations Direct: Prof. John Mearsheimer, American political scientist
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Dec 8, 2023 
Political scientist Prof. John Mearsheimer discusses the recent war in Ukraine and potential conflict in Taiwan. He argues for 'offensive realism' in international relations, contrasting with the liberal framework. The podcast explores the role of nationalism, the historical context of American foreign policy, the shift from a unipolar to multipolar world, the direction of the US and the impact of the 2024 presidential race, and the possibility of war between the US and China.
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Realism vs Liberalism in Politics
- Realism views power as the main currency in international politics and assumes all states behave similarly regardless of regime type.
- This contrasts with liberalism, which believes democracies are more peaceful and act differently from authoritarian states.
Strategy vs Morality in War
- Sometimes moral and strategic correctness align, as in WWII against Hitler.
- Often, states act strategically even when it conflicts with moral values, like the US allying with Stalin then.
Liberalism Needs Nationalism
- Liberalism alone cannot hold societies together; nationalism provides the necessary glue.
- A liberal national state needs both liberalism and nationalism to maintain unity and stability.