“The most dangerous states in the international system are continental powers with large armies.”
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 4, The Primacy of Land Power, p. 135
Quotes from book
The Tragedy of Great Power Politics
The Tragedy of Great Power Politics is a book by the American scholar John Mearsheimer on the subject of international relations theory published by W.W. Norton & Company in 2001. Mearsheimer explains and argues for his theory of "offensive realism" by stating its key assumptions, evolution from early realist theory, and its predictive capability. He readily acknowledges the inherent pessimism of offensive realism and its predictions because his world is one in which conflict between great powers will never see an end.
“Preserving power, rather than increasing it, is the main goal of states.”
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 1, Introduction, p. 20
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 1, Introduction, p. 2
Preface, p. xi
The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001)
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 6, Great Powers in Action, p. 211
“Decapitation is a fanciful strategy.”
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 4, The Primacy of Land Power, p. 109
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 10, Great Power Politics in the Twenty First Century, p. 361
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 1, Introduction, p. 15
“Bandwagoning is a strategy for the weak.”
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 5, Strategies for Survival, p. 163
“A state's potential power is based on the size of its population and the level of its wealth.”
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 2, Anarchy and the Struggle for Power, p. 43
“In an ideal world, where there are only good states, power would be largely irrelevant.”
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 1, Introduction, p. 16
“States have two kinds of power: latent power and military power.”
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 3, Wealth and Power, p. 55
“China, in short has the potential to be considerably more powerful than even the United States.”
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 10, Great Power Politics in the Twenty First Century, p. 398
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 6, Great Powers in Action, p. 202
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 8, Balancing versus Buck-Passing, p. 269
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 8, Balancing versus Buck-Passing, p. 293
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 10, Great Power Politics in the Twenty First Century, p. 385
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 7, The Offshore Balancers, p. 252
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 9, The Causes of Great Power War, p. 337
Source: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001), Chapter 4, The Primacy of Land Power, p. 84
