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The ‘realist’ approach to international relations was not long ago considered a dangerous idea. But with increased Western interventionism in Ukraine, Israel and even China, thinkers that were once exiled from liberal academic circles have suddenly gained ground. Prof. John Mearsheimer, one of the earliest proponents of a ‘realist’ approach, joined UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers for a conversation about war, peace and politics.
Watch the full interview above.
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SubscribeMearsheimer’s description of the recent Israel attack on Iran is contradicted by an article in the Wall Street Journal on Nov 2 that states that all three waves of Israeli jets reached their targets and that extensive damage was inflicted supported by satellite photos.
At 39.55 mins in…Completely opposite analysis (with satellite photos) https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-inflicted-severe-damage-on-irans-missile-program-and-air-defenses-207aafae
Mearsheimer (and fellow travellers) frequently make assertions with no evidence. I am not pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian but I find it frustrating that so many assertions are not challenged with obvious counter arguments, if only to better understand Mearsheimer’s intended meaning.
You can’t kill an idea – Basque separatists, Badder Meinhof, Red Brigade, Nationalists in Japan/Germany?
Genocide in Gaza – at 20,000 civilians killed in a year it would take 300 years, at this rate, to equal the 6 million killed in the Holocaust.
Israel is losing in Gaza and Lebanon – evidence of Hamas or Hezbollah victories or territorial gains?
Ethnic cleansing in Gaza – we lauded the removal of up to 4 million Ukrainians from Ukraine but did not call it ethnic cleansing nor 1 million Syrian refuges. Only escaping Gazans are considered “ethnic cleansing”. Millions of Germans, Poles, Greeks and Turks were moved after the war, presumably to prevent further ethnic conflicts.
Illegal Settlements in the West Bank – and yet 10 million “irregular migrants” entered the USA in the last 4 years along with how many into Europe? We do not call these “Illegal Settlements”.
Right to a Palestinian State – with the exception of the approximately 70% of “Palestinians” that live in Jordan under Jordanian rule, with no vote and no state? No state for Basques, Catalonians, Kurds?
Killing Hamas or Hezbollah fighters creates more fighters in the future. If this statement is true then all armed struggle is self-defeating including the killing of Israelis by Hamas and Hezbollah. All armed conflict leads to unending war and therfor Germans, Japanese and Vietnamese must hate Americans and British for perceived past wrongs, this is not the case.