POL 2103 Chapter Notes - Chapter Reading: Offensive Realism, Security Dilemma, Great Power

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL 2103
• Professor: Kevin Mc Millan

Document Summary

Anarchy and the struggle for power mearsheimer. Great powers search for opportunities to gain power over rivals, with hegemony (leadership or dominance over another country) as their final goal. System encourages states to look for opportunities to maximize power. Realistic assumptions need to be made to explain how the world works! International system is anarchic (does not mean that it is chaotic or driven by disorder). Not to sa(cid:455) that states a(cid:396)e hostile (cid:271)ut (cid:396)athe(cid:396) sa(cid:455)i(cid:374)g that i(cid:374)te(cid:374)tio(cid:374)s and motivations can change: survival is the primary goal of state powers. Ca(cid:374)"t (cid:271)e (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:395)ue(cid:396)ed (cid:271)e(cid:272)ause if (cid:455)ou a(cid:396)e, (cid:272)a(cid:374)"t pu(cid:396)sue po(cid:449)e(cid:396)s! States can pursue other goals but security is the most important objective: great powers are rational actors. Aware of external environment and strategic about survival. Pa(cid:455) atte(cid:374)tio(cid:374) to othe(cid:396) states" a(cid:272)tio(cid:374)s/i(cid:374)te(cid:374)tio(cid:374)s; de(cid:448)elop lo(cid:374)g-term plans. None of the assumptions alone mandates that states behave competitively. However, when they are put together, they create incentives to act offensively.