Offensive Realism

Offensive Realism is an idea Built on John Mearsheimer works along Structural Realism school of thought. In his book The Tragedy of Great Power Politics
- John’s assumptions combined together, the nature of the international system makes system act in an offensive way to gain hegemony for survival
- Even knowing One power controlling the world isn’t possible (hegemony), regional hegemons still are forced to try to get global hegemon (often failing)

[!example|right] 💡 Ex: US became hegemon (19th century), Germany almost did in World War 1

It argues that the anarchic international system encourages aggressive state behavior in international politics to secure own security
having overwhelming power and dominating others is the best way to ensure one’s own survival
great powers will always want more power to become the hegemony
- Why do states gain power?
  - Global hegemony by one state isn’t possible
  - States are encouraged to become regional hegemon in local area
  - And the area’s regional hegemon becomes the “offshore balancer”, to fill a power vacuum, prevent another state from being a regional hegemon in this region
Attacker is often the winner of wars,
attacker has lots to gain from exploiting the occupied, new information tech also help repression in many ways
- attacker does not need to occupy the state (annex, divide, disarm)

Three Types of Great Powers in Offensive Realism

Continental Great Power (Napoleonic France): Hegemon aspirant.
Island Great Power (Britain): Offshore balancer, preventing the rise of continental great power.
Regional Hegemon (US): Maintain favorable status quo.
Continental power doesn’t have naval capability of Island Great Power who doesn’t have the land capabilities of continental power (Russia & UK)

Defensive Realism needs additional theories of foreign policy to explain un-strategic great power behaviors outside of structural realism theory (offensive realism doesn’t need it)
the past is better described by offensive realism
- WW1, WW2, Imperial Germany, Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany…
- Cold War
Defensive realism says Weapons technology is defense dominant. Arms are meant to be used for defense
- except railroads
- Defensive realism failed to predict what happens so many times, WW1, WW2
- Jack Snyder defends its faults
- If weapons technology is Offensive dominant means the offensive has an advantage or defender must use offensive tactics for protection
Coalitions are inefficient to balance → vulnerable to attack
Some state opt for buck-passing, letting other pick sides and stay in the side lines

Sub-Topics

Theoretical Perspectives on Asia Pacific Security Studies