Mearsheimer, Realism, and the Ukraine War

Abstract The usefulness of ‘realism’ in explaining Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine has become a keenly contested debate not only International Relations but wider public intellectual discourse since the onset war February 2022. At centre this is punditry John J. Mearsheimer, prominent offensive realist who Professor at University Chicago. This article argues that although Mearsheimer indeed realist, his realism one many different theories can forward an explanation War. Beyond apparent hegemony structural (the branch which Mearsheimer’s belongs), it argued classical and neoclassical frameworks provide more nuanced and, ultimately, convincing arguments as why Russian President Vladimir Putin decided Ukraine. because both incorporate insights from non-realist studies—such concepts civilization ontological security—and combine them into overarching power politics framework. Although neither nor flawless their explanations, they demonstrate does just have be about international structures offer multivariate accounts state, like Russia, act, such invading