« The Zuni Cafe Cookbook | Main | The Twilight of American Culture »
21 April 2003
more from/on mearsheimer
Several of you emailed me in the wake of my posting about John Mearsheimer's lecture in Los Angeles on the subject of future U.S./China relations (3 March 2003). While I've not composed individual replies--and won't have time to do so until the end of the semester--I'd like to offer a few thoughts and links:
I don't think one can reasonably argue that U.S. hegemony will be history. Rather, the argument is one of hegemonic scope. It's difficult to imagine how the U.S. could cease to be a regional hegemon--where in the Western hemisphere is there a power that rivals that of the United States? Although the U.S. administration may desire global hegemony and try to maintain the U.S.'s current status as the superpower, I don't believe I'm misstating Mearsheimer's point when I say that the U.S. may have to content itself with regional hegemony in the face of China's growing economic might.
While a limitation on the scope of U.S. power may be a source of tension, I didn't suggest that this would be a cause of war. Conflict, yes. Increasing tension with a military gloss, perhaps. (And by military gloss I mean only to reflect Mearsheimer's own point that military might takes economic muscle.) But not necessarily the outbreak of armed hostilities. I think too few people understand the political/economic nexus that's at work, but I think careful consideration of Mearsheimer's approach is a good step toward understanding.
So...in that spirit...if this subject is of continuing interest to any of you, I suggest the following, straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak:
A Conversation with John Mearsheimer, the transcript from a dialogue between Mearsheimer and Harry Kreisler at the Institute of International Studies. I think it's helpful--particularly if you're not familiar with Mearsheimer's work--to read the segments in the order they're presented.
Also (and now available in paperback), The Tragedy of Great Power Politics by Mearsheimer. (Touched on in his recent Harper lectures (and in the IIS conversation linked above) but not addressed in Tragedy is a discussion of the impact of terrorist groups (such as al Qaeda). More to come on this subject, I suspect.
Back to the (law) books...