Tap to unmute

Why is Ukraine the West's Fault? Featuring John Mearsheimer

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 24 вер 2015
  • UnCommon Core: The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine Crisis
    John J. Mearsheimer, the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor in Political Science and Co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago, assesses the causes of the present Ukraine crisis, the best way to end it, and its consequences for all of the main actors. A key assumption is that in order to come up with the optimum plan for ending the crisis, it is essential to know what caused the crisis. Regarding the all-important question of causes, the key issue is whether Russia or the West bears primary responsibility.
    ➡ Subscribe: bit.ly/UCHICAGOytSubscribe
    About #UChicago:
    Since its founding in 1890, the University of Chicago has been a destination for rigorous inquiry and field-defining research. This transformative academic experience empowers students and scholars to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas.
    #UChicago on the Web:
    Home: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-homepage
    News: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-news
    Facebook: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-FB
    Twitter: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-TW
    Instagram: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-IG
    University of Chicago on UAclips:
    / uchicago ***
    ACCESSIBILITY: If you experience any technical difficulties with this video or would like to make an accessibility-related request, please email digicomm@uchicago.edu.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 14 497

  • Alaide Gio Mendes
    Alaide Gio Mendes 6 років тому +15834

    Amazing explanation........simple and clear.

    • Repdo Derpo
      Repdo Derpo Рік тому

      haha as simple as european politics get anyway

    • Gunner Gunnhilt
      Gunner Gunnhilt Рік тому +2

      And totally not connected to reality.

    • Troller
      Troller Рік тому +1

      @AK4 lmao, NATO expanded, it is a fact. And first act of Russia, that you might consider as aggression, started in 2008 (even then it is a debatable topic, which I will not talk about), long after NATO expanded. Before that Russia played by the rules, so please, stop with this populist crap.

  • Pete F.
    Pete F. Рік тому +12728

    I would never have watched this video when it first came out, but now that events are getting serious, I am so thankful I found this because now it makes sense why things are happening the way they are, and where we are headed, and it scares me because I feel there's nothing I personally can do about it.

    • Pete F.
      Pete F. Рік тому +17

      @Ant Pictures I see, so the 3,000 troops is just to put on a pretty show. Now, I have always assumed Russia is very powerful, and that if we got in a full fledged war with them, that we would take collateral damage. However, I never would have though it would lead to our complete destruction. Only reason I think that is that even though we have nukes, and they have nukes, I always thought our military force was still an order of magnitude more powerful than theirs, so we could fend them off, even if they got away with taking out a city here, and a city there in our homeland. I have always thought of our weapons as being more technologically advanced, even though I am sure the Russians might not be too far behind. We've got to at least have a slight advantage there too? Or maybe you are right, they could devastate the whole country, but then their entire country would also be wiped out by us, so I don't know what the point of that would be because everyone loses. So maybe that's why we will never see a full scale attack of USA vs Russia. Hopefully I am gone before that happens, because I don't want to be around to see it.
      Also, Russia is HUGE they have a lot of land, and I feel like if they eventually took the entire Ukraine, the only reason they would do that, is so that Putin could say "see, I told you I would do it." Not because they truly give a crap about the Ukraine itself. It would be all about pride and power.

    • Ant Pictures
      Ant Pictures Рік тому +20

      @Pete F. as you can see Swedish Fish didn't really answered your question. Throwing slogans around doesn't explain how 3000 US troops, stationed outside of Ukraine is going to help if Russia invades Ukraine.
      It is already have been overwhelmingly stated by US that US troops are not going to fight in Ukraine. So why send troops? Well first of all the had to do something to show their allies their support. Stationing a force which hardly could do anything to Russian army surely is not meant to engage Russians. US knows Russia is not attacking NATO. These troops are there to recon and protect US bases firmost. In case of Russian invasion they will swiftly retreat. And if Russia is not going to attack (which they said they are not going to do, and US actually expects them not to), then US will have a good pretext in media to say: "you see? Russia didn't attacked because we sent reinforcements to NATO allies. We held out part of the deal. Russian won't risk a war with US.
      The sad truth is that even if those 3000 souls were to die there in Europe, US would still not fight Russia because of that. Fighting a full fledged war with Russia would pose tremendous danger, which could lead to complete destruction of US. They won't risk that.

    • Sleeping Insomiac
      Sleeping Insomiac Рік тому +28

      @Random Name
      So your point is that since everybody telling about North Korea *could* be lying, wer should treat them as if they *are* lying?
      Wow, your debating skills are... astonishing!

  • Marcin Gajda
    Marcin Gajda Рік тому +15625

    Truly American approach. Talking about "making" other countries into something without considering their interests and opinions.

    • Askar Kalykov
      Askar Kalykov Рік тому +2110

      Yet somehow they don't understand why would others be unhappy about it?

  • Elle Ren
    Elle Ren Рік тому +3906

    Thank you, excellent presentation! I am watching this video on February 5, 2022, 8 years after the fact.
    The history and present conditions, all make sense of what is happening in Ukraine, Russia, Europe and the United States. In addition, John made a statement that he gave China 10 to 15 years before we would say problems he’s right on target

    • kean chin
      kean chin Рік тому +397

      Just watching this now too. It is so sad that the US leaders are still doing what will lead to suffering in Ukraine for their own benefit. Very good presentation. Logical, sensible and very helpful.

  • Stuart Platt
    Stuart Platt Рік тому +4561

    Love this speech and thank god he has the freedom to speak openly and sometimes even negatively about his own country. He definitely changed my mind about this conflict.

    • Gorotoro
      Gorotoro Рік тому +287

      Matthew Hiatt Democrats
      Most of people on twitter
      most people on reddit

  • Marc Goudreau
    Marc Goudreau Рік тому +82

    As long as military strength remains the determining factor for the survival and prosperity of great nations, issues of accountability and responsibility for war are not important factors. Societies have survived the blood soaked consequences of such organizational dynamics for centuries but the nuclear age offers no such guarantees, something we've yet to learn.

    • jay morgan
      jay morgan Рік тому +11

      but the nuclear age offers no such guarantees, something we've yet to learn
      oh but we have and america dropped two of them and continually threatens to use them to this day

  • Juze P
    Juze P Рік тому +3428

    I wasn't watching but listened with my headphones while working around the house. When I saw it was the article was published in 2015 I couldn't believe it. I had the feeling it was posted if not yesterday, then not more a month ago. This man is a genius! Period.

    • According to the Sokovian
      According to the Sokovian Рік тому +177

      @Tigran Oganesian not only this but the US supports the political repression of all pro Russian candidates in Ukraine. Zelensky barely won ahead of the pro Russian opposition and then immediately froze all the political and personal assets of the opposition. And the US supports this fascist action

    • According to the Sokovian
      According to the Sokovian Рік тому +68

      @Blip bag it you sock puppet

    • According to the Sokovian
      According to the Sokovian Рік тому +76

      It's just logic but in the world we live in lacks it so entirely that it makes simple men that state facts seem like geniuses

  • Crazy Guy
    Crazy Guy Рік тому +7887

    I am Ukrainian myself and it is truly sad of how my country struggles to clean itself up. Just leave it alone. we need time to build up.

    • Russ White
      Russ White Рік тому +2340

      Tell Biden to back off no one wants war

  • Kathi M. A.
    Kathi M. A. Рік тому +1027

    I just came across this prescient video from 6 and 1/2 years ago. It is amazing that we're still having the same conversation and still making the same mistakes. Thank you Professor Mearsheimer. United States is a wonderful country, but we surely suck at trying to export liberal democracy and capitalism.

    • joe k
      joe k Рік тому +83

      You seem to have exported also some well funded military dictatorships. In fact one of them was in the country that actually invented Democracy. 1967-1974 look it up.

    • Peter Codner
      Peter Codner Рік тому +56

      You will have no trouble with exporting it as you put it if there is a demand for it at a given price, but you are referring to religions, for what-you-call "capitalism" is undoubtedly a religion of sorts, while " liberal democracy" is, for all practical purposes is almost as meaningless as " capitalism"

    • Mireya Jones
      Mireya Jones Рік тому +172

      No one is trying to "export" anything. They are focused on Hunger Games style exploitation of the periphery.

  • Kathleen Wade
    Kathleen Wade Рік тому +3292

    I so wish this man had more influence on the American government. This was very worth watching. He is an exceptionally talented lecturer.

    • Ariste Arvanitidis
      Ariste Arvanitidis Рік тому +112

      The truth is always refreshing.

    • Nik Jaric
      Nik Jaric Рік тому +283

      politics is about wealthy ruling the poor educated men hardly get that job

  • Shoumojit Banerjee
    Shoumojit Banerjee Рік тому +799

    An effortlessly brilliant exposition by the Dean of International Relations! Mr. Mearsheimer, whose 'Tragedy of Great Power Politics' and the 'Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy' are masterworks (and must-reads), is one of the splendidly provocative IR theorists at work, whose books force you to think hard.

    • My ASS is HUUGE & thats an UNDERSTATEMENT
      My ASS is HUUGE & thats an UNDERSTATEMENT Рік тому +77

      So glad to find another Indian in these comments 🙋🏻, who is also aware about the power of Israel in the middle east, and the Israel lobby in US to sway the policies. Thanks for the recommendations.

  • the deeliciousplum
    the deeliciousplum Рік тому +2754

    Recently stumbled upon this talk. Prof John J. Mearsheimer's thoughts on Ukraine, on the West, and on the East are as relevant now as they were when this talk was given. A valuable and enlightening talk. Thank you for sharing this.

  • oceanbnd
    oceanbnd Рік тому +794

    Very interesting lecture. I’ve never heard of John Mearsheimer before this. Sounds like a wise man here. I wonder if he’d still be saying these same things now? I’d like to hear him now. He’s only 74 and I’m sure still with it enough for at least a discussion. Love to hear from him now.

    • Artem Novikov
      Artem Novikov Рік тому +14

      @Peter Ashtar In May 2014 P. Poroshenko won the presidential elections in first tour, it means that he got more than 50% among all candidates (), the second place was only at 13%. How he was 'installed' if he literally won in the landslide?

    • Artem Novikov
      Artem Novikov Рік тому +18

      @Peter Ashtar Are you aware that there were already 2 president elections and 2 parliament elections, and there is literally nobody in power in Ukraine today, who was in power in spring of 2014? Current government of Ukraine is the government based on elections of 2019.

    • Andres Alva
      Andres Alva Рік тому +17

      @Peter Ashtar I don't believe that and I hope you don't either. I guess we can agree on that point and leave it there. My final OPINION is that Ukraine and its people should decide on its own destiny and no one else.

    • Peter Ashtar
      Peter Ashtar Рік тому +16

      @Andres Alva everyone is posting their OPINIONS on youtube. The fallacy is believing yours is somehow worth more than any others.

  • Алексей Косарчук
    Алексей Косарчук Рік тому +18479

    It is very interesting to watch in 2022, knowing how events played out.

    • Johnny Looi
      Johnny Looi Рік тому +48

      @Алексей Косарчук “i’d rather prefer everybody live as friends” ironic - this is the cornerstone of liberal international relations theory of which the West claims to be a champion, but they seemed to never consider Mearsheimer’s option that Ukraine be left alone as a neutral state utterly uninvolved with the US-Russia competition. Conventional liberal doctrine would suggest that this would be the best option to maximize international cooperation especially since China is becoming a threat and Russia was not too friendly towards China, but NATO expansionist tendencies have seemed to push Russia into Chinese arms, and heightened tensions where unnecessary. I admittedly do not know anything about domestic Ukrainian politics, but based off my somewhat nascent understanding of IR and security studies, this conflict seems to just have been a result of misperception - that of the West and NATO in thinking that increasing their soft and hard influence in Ukraine wouldn’t be that big of a deal in Putin’s government. Or maybe this is an issue of neo-imperialism in America trying to make Ukraine a pro-American state. Whatever the reason, I found Mearsheimer’s presentation very convincing, and Western actions in line with the historical trend of American neoimperialism, and I found your line about “dick fights between big men in power” a 100% accurate description of this conflict.

    • ANDRE MOREIRA
      ANDRE MOREIRA Рік тому +3

      ​@James Cache He hold a PhD -- Putin Honoris Doctor

    • Elena Drachyovs
      Elena Drachyovs Рік тому +21

      @Alejandro Kato dont compare please USA with any other Europenian or Asian state. USA is mix of everything that doesnt have any spesific culture or language. Even Africab culture is richer than USA's. And none is going to separate NY from Texas or anything like that.

    • mystic city
      mystic city Рік тому

      @James Cache how so?

  • A. Michael Uhlmann
    A. Michael Uhlmann Рік тому +2193

    Not only where his predictions about Ukraine right on the spot (six years ago), but in some extra remarks, he mentioned that it would be really bad if Russia and China would cooperate again - and yes these two nations found each other again, Russia helping China advancing it's Belt & Road policy.

    • Beatsbydanzy
      Beatsbydanzy Рік тому +292

      @Aaron Aarons agreed

    • Aaron Aarons
      Aaron Aarons Рік тому +891

      I hope that Russia, China and other countries can unite against Western imperialism.

  • Adebagbo joshua
    Adebagbo joshua Рік тому +162

    Great lecture, the wisdom and relevancy after 6 years is frightening though. Now I understand Germany not even allowing military aids to fly in her airspace to Ukraine. China/Taiwan debacle, Iran, Afghan and Syria positions now makes sense.

  • Utkarsh Mishra
    Utkarsh Mishra Рік тому +1242

    He basically predicted all the things which are happening today in 2022, excellent person

    • Wizard of Oz
      Wizard of Oz Рік тому +19

      @Maria Ivanova and what Zhirinovsky predicted before Americans invaded Iraq? Complete and total nonsense.

    • Maria Ivanova
      Maria Ivanova Рік тому +88

      A Russian politician, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, predicted this in 2000's, so not much new for me here.

    • Anirban Roy
      Anirban Roy Рік тому +78

      @Alexander Plain bro then how will the media and politican eat

    • Alexander Plain
      Alexander Plain Рік тому +102

      and not enough people listened, shame.

  • Dana Ysol
    Dana Ysol Рік тому +86

    Thank you so much for sharing this lecture.

  • Simon Oxley
    Simon Oxley Рік тому +300

    What a super presentation and how utterly depressing that most of Professor Mearsheimer’s predictions have come true.

  • Chris Redding
    Chris Redding Рік тому +3489

    As many below have said: You have to keep reminding yourself that this lecture happened over six years ago.

    • Haez
      Haez Рік тому +7

      I mean the US have been interfering in Ukraine since the 50s

    • fsinjin60
      fsinjin60 Рік тому +3

      @Holly Crompton Because Russia is already beyond its borders. In Georgia, in Ukraine, Crimea, even Kalinograd if truth be recognized. Why doesn't Ukraine has a right to defend its border with foreign help?

  • Alex G
    Alex G Рік тому +456

    Excellent comprehensive analysis and Q&A session. The only parameter missing is the dollar hegemony vs. the search for an alternative currency supported by China, Russia and other states, who are fed up with the dollar endless printing detached from economic fundamentals, precious metals bashing, and US unilateral economy sanctions. Currencies wars is a big part of the geo-strategic rivalry today.

    • Lidia Wolanskyj
      Lidia Wolanskyj Рік тому +16

      @David Burman Russia's behavior was predictable by all in 2015 and still is. it's the blame part of the equation that is wrong. Let's say a guy robs your house. You had a security system on but the thief disarmed it. Are you to blame for the theft? Really? We can all see that, in fact, the more the West and NATO has tried to accommodate Russia (e.e., France and Germany in 2008, but not the US), the more aggressive it has become. Now that the response has been considerably more robiust (not just 'deep concern' as in 2014), Putin is being more cautious. Appeals from academics and former officers, instead of being hushed, are being published. Seems like a convenient face-saving device when he does decide to back down. But for Ukraine, the only long-term security answer is membership in NATO. Whatever he may say (and he has threatened nuclear attacks remarkably frequently, including against Ukraine), Putin is not so far gone that he doesn't see the absurdly self-defeating reality of such an attack. Russia shouldn't be on the Security Council for that alone.

    • David Burman
      David Burman Рік тому +31

      @Lidia Wolanskyj "rightfully dropped" - Interesting comment considering the accuracy of his analysis from the perspective of the present situation

    • Lidia Wolanskyj
      Lidia Wolanskyj Рік тому +2

      @Gary Lake No offense taken. But that's your opinion of his statement, not mine.

    • Sleeping Insomiac
      Sleeping Insomiac Рік тому +8

      Comparing a sovereign country joining a defensive pact with installing nukes at the border doesn't sound excellent, or comprehensive to me...

  • D V
    D V Рік тому +582

    My take away from this (about 40 minutes in while writing this) is that this was always going to happen, and was a matter of "when", not "if". Dire times ahead for this region.

    • Wicked Guppy
      Wicked Guppy Рік тому

      @GameNerdz That's a big subject which you should learn something about.

  • William Nhamo
    William Nhamo Рік тому +959

    'Conventional wisdom' is the easiest way to obtain information and it surely misleads. One really needs to understand issues on a fundamental level before simply believing 'conventional wisdom' Great lecture Prof John J. Mearsheimer!

    • Jean-Pierre De Vent
      Jean-Pierre De Vent Рік тому +65

      I am now a fan. It's refreshing that he is American and yet not like Chomsky, or even Sanders, a typical lefty. He seems more the reasonable center, which today probably has not much influence and appears left in the US.

  • K T
    K T Рік тому +66

    Fast forward to January 2022 and we now have the scenario he describes in the last minute of this video, which he describes as potentially very dangerous.

  • Shelly Smith
    Shelly Smith Рік тому +105

    I started watching this and thought it was recorded in Jan 2022! This is exactly what is still happening!

  • Eamon Brennan
    Eamon Brennan Рік тому +3494

    It's extraordinary how (at the time of the gulf war) it was repeatedly stated that this conflict was NOT ABOUT OIL. But 20 years later an academic can casually drop the fact that it was all about oil into a lecture.

    • Ferragus
      Ferragus Рік тому +4

      @Eamon Brennan im not sure there are exactly 12 currently but every source i've looked at doesn't mention there being more than that, feel free to share yours tho
      Thing is you don't take the weight of nationalism in the iraqi population into account, a force any new government's gonna have to deal with and the same goes for the us
      im not saying a complete withdrawal of western forces is likely in the coming months thats for sure, we're gonna have to wait for the situation to stabilize at first, but they're not gonna be able to maintain bases permanently, the US doesnt have as much power as u may think

    • Eamon Brennan
      Eamon Brennan Рік тому +4

      @Ferragus If you think that there are 12 US bases in Iraq you are seriously misinformed. Even when all of the forward bases disappear over the next few years there will remain at least half a dozen (like in Saudi Arabia) and they won't be going anywhere irrespective of who is in government.

    • Ferragus
      Ferragus Рік тому

      @Eamon Brennan 12 at the moment and that will probably go down to zero if the sadrists come to power once they get their heads out their asses
      you are tho, the US were only able to pull that kinda shit in the 90s and 2000s, the current administration doesn't have the political capital nor the will to intervene directly in iraqi internal affairs, at least with the same intensity as before
      i rly insist, al kadhimi may be closer to the us than iran but he's not simply serving their interests

    • Blip
      Blip Рік тому +2

      You could casually drop that fact at McDonald's in 1991. Everyone knew it lmao

    • Joseph Jones
      Joseph Jones Рік тому

      @nicolas vega-frey That's not true at all. The majority of the contracts for them went to European companies (they're "state owned"). The money was spread around.

  • Robert Finn
    Robert Finn Рік тому +830

    Prophetic! Thank you so much for such a clear, informative and insightful talk. I learnt a lot from it.

  • Pravda
    Pravda Рік тому +808

    12:48 Tremendous lecture, and particularly relevant given recent events, but it really has to be said whenever this conversation is being had- if for no other reason than in the interest of pursuing the truth of the matter- that America's geo-political strategies and rationale have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the proliferation of democracy. If they can manage to cobble together an election with their boys in one corner and controlled opposition of some sort in the other, fine- it's good press after all and can serve as further justification for expansion down the road- but that isn't the principal motive. What they are installing are not democracies, but allies. Whether those allies take the form of liberal democrats or an outright, unapologetic military dictatorship is immaterial. Furthermore wether or not the people being overthrown arrived at their position democratically is of equal unimportance.They want places to extract vast quantities of wealth, strictly on their terms, with no fight back of any kind. It's truly that simple. Any attempt to obfuscate that basic truth only serves to muddy the water and allows for broad support of a fundamentally imperialistic foreign policy under the mistaken impression that they are acting in service of the liberation of mankind from the thralls of despotism.

    • Pravda
      Pravda Рік тому +40

      @Test Account Yeah the bit about the "need for Russia on Syria, Iran and China" isn't great either. The whole thing started to fall apart more and more the longer he went on tbh. Definitely praised the lecture prematurely. He was correct insofar as he's right that the West fomented the current crisis in Ukraine, and his observations about the strategic significance of Ukraine were pretty good, but that's about it. Beyond that it pretty quickly descends into the usual unhinged positions on America's perceived geo-political role

    • Test Account
      Test Account Рік тому +31

      This is exactly my thoughts while watching that part. I'm only on 25th minute of this video, but a part about "installing democracy" was the most disturbing to watch so far. The second disturbing part was a simplistic approach to explaining what actions in western Ukraine led to uprisings in eastern Ukraine.

    • Blip
      Blip Рік тому +15

      23:10
      No, this lecture sucks.

  • Andres Pope
    Andres Pope Рік тому +192

    Great lecture, our political leaders should watch and listen

  • therealrockguy
    therealrockguy Рік тому +100

    Thank you for sharing. You made your points very clear and easy to understand.

  • techguy651
    techguy651 Рік тому +75

    The Clash of Civilizations book should be standard reading for the 21st century. We’re witnessing the decentralization of power away from formalized nation states and the more we try to centralize that power (into NATO/EU or whatever) instead of allowing decentralized sovereignty, the more of these conflicts we’re going to see.

  • Christopher Kuffel
    Christopher Kuffel Рік тому +1324

    As an American living in Asia for the majority of my life, I often hear US congressmen speak on Asia. I cannot express my compete sense of bewilderment and horror when one of them gets on a soapbox and demonstrates profound ignorance of even the basics. I often puzzle whether it is true deep ignorance or they are speaking to a domestic audience so they need to appear ignorant. Perhaps they are playing game I do not understand, but starting from statements that are easily challenged creates another set of questions. The lack of any real understanding is often so remarkable that it perfectly aims them at some sort of geopolitical car crash without offering a map to a perceivable goal.

    • Joshua Roland
      Joshua Roland Рік тому +2

      I know! I use this phrase all the time, even with people I know- "I don't know if they are strategically pretending to be stupid, or they are really that stupid" I know people do this.

    • Desperatelyseekingrealnews
      Desperatelyseekingrealnews Рік тому +17

      @chaosXpert you think US bases are by invitation? You really are mad

    • Desperatelyseekingrealnews
      Desperatelyseekingrealnews Рік тому +1

      @hard shell What did b&w jazz say , it appears to have disappeared,/deleted and run home to mummy

    • chaosXpert
      chaosXpert Рік тому

      @Desperatelyseekingrealnews How many countries invite China or Russia to build bases?

  • Graeme Glen
    Graeme Glen Рік тому +931

    Wow !! I was watching this without checking the date (6 years ago) and thought he was talking about current events. Things that pertain to this week. Which essentially he is. It's a shame Governments are controlled by politicians and not clear thinking smart people like John here.

  • P J
    P J 11 місяців тому +339

    I like his talk a lot, and he explained the psychology fairly well of both western EU countries and the Russia from a historical point of view that traced back to WW2. Ukraine people certainly has a lot of sad memory about WW2. This is really a messy situation now.

  • busyrand
    busyrand Рік тому +676

    This was a joy to watch. This professor is a great presenter.

  • exploiteddna
    exploiteddna Рік тому +439

    good lecture with some good points, and certainly provides context for current events. At the same time, it would be interesting to hear a similar lecture from the majority of academics who dont agree with this guy (as he noted in the first half of the talk, he is in the minority with his opinions here)

    • that broad
      that broad Рік тому +13

      Hmm. Those were the facts. And with him having what seems to be a clear insight into all that went on and where everybody stands, I reckon I’d actually like to hear from him again on this topic. See where he thinks this train will hit while our driver is slowly imploding. Creating havoc over there because of trouble at home, an older person’s quick temper, and the fact that the Dems seem to have chosen Putin as their big bad, are the aggravating factors just here in the states. Yes, I wish there were a way to reach out and ask!! (And just to cover it so I don’t get a dog pile, the GOP has put Xi in the Darth suit. In the scheme of things though, China Rising is an issue. For another time.

    • Shiny Priest
      Shiny Priest Рік тому +53

      @XXX XXX what about cuba then. The weak don't have choosing power in the real world

  • Asad Saleem
    Asad Saleem Рік тому +178

    This man better be alive because he's a legend

    • Ron MacKinnon
      Ron MacKinnon Рік тому +35

      He's alive -- though unfortunately, one of the few other American scholars who shared his critique whom he mentioned during this talk, Stephen Cohen, passed away in 2020. Another voice of sanity who is sorely missed.

  • Lemon Party
    Lemon Party Рік тому +1422

    Six years later and what this man has been saying has come to pass, such as the US/Nato influence in Ukraine and the China threat. The truth of what he says is obvious even to a layman like myself.

    • Luther Blissett
      Luther Blissett Рік тому +8

      @birmingham0613 We did that for strategic reasons. Wouldn't have mattered if the leader of Germany was Mother Theresa, we didn't want a hegemon in Europe, we wanted a balance of power.

    • birmingham0613
      birmingham0613 Рік тому +4

      @Luther Blissett Particularly in international relations.Ever hear of our involvement in WW2?Yeah,I thought as much.

    • birmingham0613
      birmingham0613 Рік тому +1

      @The Fong An amazing dunce who despises morality.

  • Ann Mowatt
    Ann Mowatt Рік тому +570

    Brilliant talk. Wonderful to hear someone not only speaking sense but doing it so clearly. Thank you.

    • Phat Baby
      Phat Baby Рік тому +8

      Agreed. Yet, I couldn't discern whether he was serious or sarcastic when he stated several times that the US goal was to bring democracy and Capitalism to the world. Democracy and Capitalism are almost polar opposites. Tongue in cheek maybe?

  • Ron MacKinnon
    Ron MacKinnon Рік тому +140

    Thoughtful and intelligent as he is, I'm surprised Professor Mearsheimer is so naive as to take US democracy-promotion rhetoric at face value. Orientation to US and western economic interests is always the goal, and if actual democracy ever threatened to get in the way of that, it would be dealt with. Creating the appearance of democracy in the minds of US and international audiences is what's really involved, and groups like the NED are well-practiced at it.

    • D Dehggial
      D Dehggial Рік тому +45

      I don't think he's naive but he probably too has a hand that he can't bite.

  • G1Arduo
    G1Arduo Рік тому +84

    Feels like a video that's just been released this month. Can't believe this is so relevant 7 years later.

  • Cook! with Cel
    Cook! with Cel Рік тому +505

    wish i knew about this at that time period but its never to late to learn . Now i have a better understanding about that situation. I enjoyed this presentation

  • Andersson A. F. Porto
    Andersson A. F. Porto Рік тому +29

    Surprises me that from 2014 until now 2022 nothing changes and the solution is the buffer state how proposed by the brilliant Professor

  • Flankymanga
    Flankymanga Рік тому +203

    I am watching this video in anuary 2022 thinking that this presentation happened in December 2021. You can't imagine my shock finding out that prof. Mearsheimer had this presentation in 2015 and everything he said was spot on. The things he discussed are playing out right now as i write this comments.

  • Magnus Adolfsson
    Magnus Adolfsson Рік тому +101

    Great lecture. There is somehow a super-power perspective, should we look the other way for nations to decide their own alliance?

    • Tolbka Miskin
      Tolbka Miskin Рік тому +13

      ​@Juhani Välimäki well, i wrote most "russians" not ukrainians who speak russian, but actually russians. I hope you get it.
      And maybe 80 percent ukrainins speak russians because of decades of "rusification". And those 20 percent perfectly understands russian language.
      To be clear, russians in russia, want war, they was so happy because of war in georgia, they happy to know that another ukrainian soldier died. Its their mentality to live in shit, being robed by their own goverment, but blaim usa, europe, ukraine, and feel happy when something bad happens to those.
      So telling that putin provoked by nato is such BS... nodody wanted to be part of nato in ukraine, but when russia invades in crimea and created that war in donbas, just to be safer only because of what russia did, yes people want to be in nato.
      And russia spend billions to pay all those professors, blogers, and others, to spread that lie that russia is being provocked, when its other way around, russia just terrorize countries until they want to be part of nato to be protected from russia.

    • Juhani Välimäki
      Juhani Välimäki Рік тому +12

      @Tolbka Miskin I know five Russian speaking Ukrainians personally enough to know what they think. All against Putin. Of course my statistic sample is small and there might be bias as they are all educated and can read English. And they are also in Finland.
      But certainly does not look like the armchair professor is thinking that all Russian-speaking would be for Moscow.

  • John Burton
    John Burton Рік тому +22

    Excellent presentation on the causes and implications of Ukrainian crisis given in 2015 that hold true for 2022. It has implications for American Ukrainian policies in 2022 towards resolution of the 2022 Ukrainian crisis with RUSSIA!

  • froeshy froeschken
    froeshy froeschken Рік тому +16

    Thanks for uploading. Is there a printed version of this speech? Where and when was this speech hold?

  • endall39
    endall39 Рік тому +71

    I want to see an updated version of this lecture

  • Beautiful Ethiopia
    Beautiful Ethiopia Рік тому +157

    I like someone who dare to speak the truth in all its simplicity.

  • toshkris
    toshkris Рік тому +1248

    If you review lectures by other eminents, one frequently encounters contradictions after a period of say 5 years. But this Professor is consistent in his remarks with regards to events unfolding. I find him to be relatively intellectually honest as well, a rare trait in these times.

    • Моя Лепта
      Моя Лепта Рік тому +10

      @Oliver Lorenzo Modern Ukraine is a puzzle assembled from territorial gifts made by Russian tsars, Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev. The modern borders of Ukraine are the product of Soviet national-state construction carried out under the leadership of the Bolshevik Party. Until 1917, the term "Ukrainian people" was not in any encyclopedia, throughout the territory of Russia - Great, Small and White - Russians lived, having their own territorial, linguistic and everyday features. 1) In 1654, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich of Moscow allowed Hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his Cossacks to become part of Russia. Now these lands make up two incomplete regions of Ukraine. 2) On April 8, 1783, Crimea came under the jurisdiction of the Russian Empire as a result of Russia's victory over the Turks in the Russo-Turkish war. 3) 1922 - Lenin was still alive, the territory of the Russian Donbass and Novorossiysk province with the city of Kharkov were transferred to Ukraine. We are talking about the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog basin and the northern Black Sea region. 4) 1939 - most of Western Ukraine became part of the Ukrainian SSR. ( Stalin ) 5) 1940, the northern part of Bukovina was transferred to the Soviet Union and became the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine. ( Stalin ) 6) According to the Soviet-Czechoslovak agreement of June 29, 1945, Transcarpathia became part of the Ukrainian SSR. Thus, the modern border of Ukraine with Slovakia and Hungary was established. By the way, after the war, the city of Lviv returned to Ukraine thanks to Stalin. 7) In 1954, Khrushchev took Crimea from Russia (Russian Soviet Socialist Republic) and gave it to Ukraine (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) . Gives the peninsula without a referendum, without the consent of the inhabitants of Crimea. That's how Crimea suddenly became Ukrainian.

    • Ljilja Mitrović
      Ljilja Mitrović Рік тому

      @Artem Bilous And what would be the flight of a plane above the war zone, and the attack illegal. Why was not any plane shot down outside the war zone. Well, not because they did not cause any suspicion because they are out of the zone of action. You shot down any plane in western Ukraine, and the war is being fought in eastern Ukraine. Of course not.

    • Artem Bilous
      Artem Bilous Рік тому +1

      @Ljilja Mitrović what does it have to do with the illegal attack? Using Russian military equipment

    • Ljilja Mitrović
      Ljilja Mitrović Рік тому +1

      @Artem Bilous the greatest security is if civilian planes are not directed to the area above the war zone and amen

  • GKJ85
    GKJ85 Рік тому +18

    He says what the majority of Europeans think.
    Politicians and big business want their bread basket, and a new market for their products.
    The politicians and the big industry will make a lot of money and we the people will pay the price to get that country up to the standard of Western Europe.
    And just the thought of all that crime and corruption and half of Ukraine will flow into Europe.

  • Whekau
    Whekau Рік тому +401

    It scares me how few respected scholars aren't afraid to speak truth about Russia and Ukraine. Stephen Cohen and John Mearsheimer are the only two that come to my mind. And few MSM give them platform these days.

  • Josh Spry
    Josh Spry Рік тому +159

    Watching this 7 years later and I can say we pushed Russia to china.

  • Kerry Summers
    Kerry Summers Рік тому +174

    I really enjoyed watching this. Logic and history come to a clear understanding of what is going on.

    • nosuchthing8
      nosuchthing8 Рік тому

      @Dodgson, we've got Dodgson here! no one in America bows before putin

    • Sleeping Insomiac
      Sleeping Insomiac Рік тому +5

      @48pluto
      Actually, I am old enough to remember the Soviet Union.
      But you being a 13yo Putin fanboy explains a lot.
      Good luck growing up...

  • Gloria z
    Gloria z Рік тому +75

    here is an amazing lesson to people who have only Western information. But also to those interested in more information past and present geopolitical situations with the potential of a disaster for Ukraine, The West is blind or better the US is with so narrow view that is incredibly stupid.

  • Mr Pangy
    Mr Pangy Рік тому +341

    Very interesting that this is coming up again after many years. One of the most interesting points is that Mearsheimer brings in an ethical point that leads into "strategic interest," when the point of leaving unchecked behavior is more the point that I would like to hear more about.

    • Dima K.
      Dima K. Рік тому +7

      and stop talking about "independence" and "joining NATO" at the same time. Those are incompatible things.

    • Dima K.
      Dima K. Рік тому +1

      @Nu Pagadii chill bro, it's politics. Ukraine won't ever become a part of NATO with the USA, EU, Ukraine and Russia as they are today. It's a stalemate. If one of those parties changes dramatically, or say Ukraine accepts that Crimea and Donbass and Russians for good - then maybe.

    • Eric Vardek
      Eric Vardek Рік тому

      @Moose Moose In what world is that ever going to happen. Get real dude - as in realpolitik.

  • Chris Fox
    Chris Fox Рік тому +258

    One of the most interesting videos I have watched ... ever. What a superbly informed man.

  • Cosmo Smallpiece
    Cosmo Smallpiece Рік тому +72

    Good lecture and by and large factual, but still a US view. Certainly the most unbiased view from John.

    • Yassy bubla
      Yassy bubla Рік тому

      @Cosmo Smallpiece I'll take that as a complement:)

    • Cosmo Smallpiece
      Cosmo Smallpiece Рік тому +1

      @Yassy bubla when the loans cannot be repaid what then...true no tanks..the chinese are subtle.

    • Cosmo Smallpiece
      Cosmo Smallpiece Рік тому

      @canon2k7 they own a huge chunk of Darwin. The yanks lease their base.

    • Random Name
      Random Name Рік тому +1

      @punk4rockorz I never claimed china was the good guy. they are on the defensive most of the time, until recently when they started pushing back. but when it comes to the china good vs china bad narrative, where the bad stories are overwhelmingly sourced from US/western media where they have clear motive to do so, I'm leaning towards the china good (or I should say China not bad) side 9 times out of 10.
      by the way, none of the channels I mentioned are China based. they are independent sources, and quite a few of them are sick of US imperialism and war mongering. the US uses lies to start wars because the "defense" contractors, who lobby congress, profit in times of conflict and turmoil.

  • pusheen73
    pusheen73 Рік тому +129

    Amazing! America still has smart people like him!

  • jerryakehurst
    jerryakehurst Рік тому +71

    Puts in mind Churchill's comment - "You can always trust the Americans to do the right thing ....... after they've tried everything else"

  • Stephen williams
    Stephen williams Рік тому +390

    Is this guy still lecturing or has he been cancelled because he drew his responses from all sources instead of the approved list. I found his depth and insightful conclusions amazingly accurate considering they were almost 7 years ago

  • Jill Featherman
    Jill Featherman Рік тому +185

    I see that I’m not the only one here refreshing their history. It’s amazing how well he predicted the current situation.

  • godson johnson
    godson johnson Рік тому +12

    You gave a good analysis of the situation.👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

  • James Parker
    James Parker Рік тому +381

    This guy nailed it. History proved him to be correct, over 6 years later. The "Washington Gang" should have listened.

  • Joshua Hollister
    Joshua Hollister Рік тому +8

    Found it kinda funny how when he made the joke about how the chinese public were smarter than the Americans, and the audience laughed before he told the punchline

  • Paul Leslie
    Paul Leslie Рік тому +3

    I think the more profound issue with the current crisis is that it is creating a pervers partnership between Russia and China and is opening the back door for China to progress its expansion quest by providing a smokescreen for China to move on Taiwan

  • Will 1
    Will 1 Рік тому +42

    Is nobody shocked that he is openly saying that the us installs favourable governments in foreign countries?

  • MrFischvogel
    MrFischvogel Рік тому +99

    Thank you very much, Sir, for this clear and very convincing argument against the majority opinion ! =)

  • Tengku Aliff
    Tengku Aliff Рік тому +86

    13:45 this is my favourite part of the speech. Stating that US's political interest is to have someone pro-western to be elected, since a democratically elected government aligns more to western values. Which of course is obvious and makes sense, but also shows the underlying reason as to why US is so adamant at interfering in these elections. The US is not 100% pro-democracy as they are more towards anti-communist/ any other dictatorial or authoritarian-style of ruling.

    • Fitgirl Legbusta
      Fitgirl Legbusta Рік тому

      @TAR ICO What a completely childlike sarcasm. You think that nations have ever not interfered with eachother? The point is the consequence, not the act itself.

  • Nadia Vanag
    Nadia Vanag Рік тому +19

    This is fantastic, thank you.

  • Marc Rawley
    Marc Rawley Рік тому +205

    It's a shame for the Ukrainian people this kind of pragmatism doesnt get put forward as the solution

  • John L
    John L Рік тому +138

    Great lecture. This is the Russian equivalent of the Cuban missile crisis.

    • John L
      John L Рік тому +95

      @edrdavenport78 It was also Cuba’s right to align with themselves with the USSR, particularly after the ‘Bay of Pigs invasion’ a year earlier. Kennedy was right to protect Americans from having nukes on their front doorstep during the missile crisis; it’s also reasonable for Russia to protect their strategic interests. Put yourself in their shoes.

    • Victor Shankle
      Victor Shankle Рік тому +2

      I sure hope not

    • edrdavenport78
      edrdavenport78 Рік тому +20

      Not equivalent. Russia literally annexed a part of Ukraine. If the Ukrainians feel it's in their best interest to join NATO, that's their prerogative. There's nothing inherently offensive about that, as there was with the Cuban missile crisis.

  • Sandip Sinha
    Sandip Sinha Рік тому +9

    Prof.that was excellent views, very balanced. In this case the best thing to do is to do nothing at the present time.

  • Nceguy
    Nceguy Рік тому +124

    Wow, given recent events...this man was spot on with every point.

  • Jeff Heyer
    Jeff Heyer Рік тому +24

    This is very relevant right now.. your predictions were pretty much spot on!

  • Phone Owner
    Phone Owner Рік тому +25

    I literally thought this was made a month ago. It felt surreal to realize that this was made 6 years ago!

  • ryan verner
    ryan verner Рік тому +21

    Hi john you mentioned one key thing in this video that you say would never happen but actually has been happening. China has been sending troops to the Canadian united states border for training in cold weather for quite sometime now. It's no mystery they say it's for other reasons obviously but how does monroe doctrine not apply to them doing things like that.

    • Regina Semenenko
      Regina Semenenko Рік тому +2

      That should be stopped. Thanks for mentioning this, though.

  • Anton Andreev
    Anton Andreev Рік тому +133

    Absolutely brilliant and still relevant. Good lord, why am I only watching this now?

  • Sófocles Morán
    Sófocles Morán Рік тому +9

    Amazing, still so currently accurate!

  • CainIwakura Ch. カイン岩倉
    CainIwakura Ch. カイン岩倉 Рік тому +1361

    Crazy to think this lecture was 6 year ago and it's accurate.

    • Sabrina Tschäß
      Sabrina Tschäß Рік тому +49

      @ptr mjsur They remove democratically elected leaders everywhere they go. Happened in Ukraine (in 2014 I think). The guy who was replaced was opposed to conflict in Russia. Funny how that works.

    • ptr mjstr
      ptr mjstr Рік тому +71

      you guys realy bealive nato is promoting democracy??

  • R Ally
    R Ally Рік тому +158

    A masterclass in geopolitics. Thanks.

  • hyhhy
    hyhhy Рік тому +46

    This guy knows his stuff.

  • Anantha
    Anantha Рік тому +15

    Watching this in 2022, I realized that all of his predictions in this video have come true !!!

  • Fulton County Junk Queen
    Fulton County Junk Queen Рік тому +109

    A friendly reminder this was 6 YEARS ago! This is a smart man! Sopt On! Genius! Not one single CONSPIRACY added to this lecture.... NOT FAKE NEWS! TRUTH!!

  • Conscious Objector
    Conscious Objector Рік тому +7

    Totally agree with this synopsis.

  • Oleg Tatarov
    Oleg Tatarov Рік тому +209

    John Mearsheimer has clearly nailed it, his clarity and reason make him such a distinguished and bright academic. Pretty much everything that he said 6 years ago has now crystallised.

  • George George
    George George Рік тому +4

    there are short-medium and long-term goals that humanity should aim
    at...I think that the issues such as Russia/CCP vs USA vs Rogue States (or the "battle of religions" that is also trying to sell itself as the "battle of all time") is the medium term and in the long term (100+ years) humanity should aim the effort onto another dimensions of our human potential and capabilities.

  • Allan Aringo
    Allan Aringo Рік тому +140

    When it comes to Ukraine, less TV and more lectures will prove to be the way to go

    • Wizard of Oz
      Wizard of Oz Рік тому +11

      Why you think the lectures should be truthful?

  • Deep Rolling River
    Deep Rolling River Рік тому +20

    Wow. I got the American media/government take on this. To hear the other side of the story is quiet illuminating

  • Terry Gabriel
    Terry Gabriel Рік тому +15

    As for the Europe first policy going into war, he forgets the only reason the US got involved in European wars was for its own benefit in WW1 and had no choice in WW2 because Hitler declared war on the US.

  • Bishop Woodrow H. Dawkins Jr.
    Bishop Woodrow H. Dawkins Jr. Рік тому +62

    Now This Man Knows What He's Talking About. Thank You Sir.

  • Life With Daughters
    Life With Daughters Рік тому +662

    Well thank you so much! This was amazing, something has not sat right with me when it came to the issue of Ukraine and I’m so glad I came across this video has really helped me to understand and confirm in my heart what I’ve been sensing and feeling this whole time.

    • Jc tr4
      Jc tr4 Рік тому +106

      Yes, We will never find the truth listening to main stream media.

    • Robert Walton-Sharp
      Robert Walton-Sharp Рік тому +34

      It is an alternative reality, which if you start watching Russia Today will seem all the more real to you.

  • Tim Dickinson
    Tim Dickinson Рік тому +189

    This lecture is particularly interesting given recent events along the Russian --Ukrainian border. Events in that area seem always to occur in the month of February. I wonder why. Therefore, I would strongly advise Ukrainian leaders to watch this lecture ASAP, wake up, and get off the primrose path that the "benign hegemon" in the West is leading them up.

    • Tim Dickinson
      Tim Dickinson Рік тому +11

      @guzy1971 let’s hope so!

    • guzy1971
      guzy1971 Рік тому +19

      Well apparently the current ukranian President begins to understand it. He asked Biden to calm down his belllecist mood

  • John Deighan
    John Deighan Рік тому +4

    Lucid and relevant lecture.

  • Shahrukh Daud
    Shahrukh Daud Рік тому +10

    Wow!
    Appreciated the PPT slides and explanation.

  • Nathan Adams
    Nathan Adams Рік тому +27

    First time i have heard truth spoken about Ukraine. Finally

  • 73 zzyyzzyy
    73 zzyyzzyy Рік тому +3

    Some people/creatures would feel extremely insecure and uncomfortable, if there is something/someone which cannot be controlled by them. Therefore, these people/creatures have been doing whatever it takes to destroy/kill anything/any people/any creatures which cannot be controlled by them, if they can destroy/kill them. Unfortunately, other people have not yet been able to stop them from doing so.

  • Lee Lee
    Lee Lee Рік тому +414

    What an absolutely insightful and fascinating video. Very relevant to the current crisis in Ukraine

  • Dayne Dosher
    Dayne Dosher Рік тому +39

    The American government would do well to listen to this Gentleman

  • Alpha Male
    Alpha Male Рік тому +39

    This is crazy. Been doing a lot of my own research even listening to Putin’s points in his speeches recently. Literally looks like he took it out of this dudes PowerPoint lmao.