The New Era of Great Power Competition | John Mearsheimer & Stephen Walt

The international relations landscape is defined by structural realism, where the anarchic nature of the global system forces states to prioritize power balances for survival. American foreign policy during the unipolar moment—characterized by liberal hegemony and the pursuit of global democracy—failed to account for the security concerns of other major powers, ultimately driving Russia into a confrontational stance. The current conflict in Ukraine stems from the West’s multi-pronged effort to integrate the nation into NATO and the EU, which Moscow perceives as an existential threat. This strategic miscalculation, combined with a lack of historical sobriety regarding nuclear risks, has created a dangerous escalation ladder. To effectively counter China, the primary peer competitor, the United States must abandon its interventionist tendencies and focus on maintaining regional stability rather than attempting to reshape the global order.