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The Great Delusion

Liberal Dreams and International Realities

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The Great Delusion

By: John J. Mearsheimer
Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
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A major theoretical statement by a distinguished political scholar explains why a policy of liberal hegemony is doomed to fail

In this major statement, the renowned international-relations scholar John Mearsheimer argues that liberal hegemony, the foreign policy pursued by the United States since the Cold War ended, is doomed to fail. It makes far more sense, he maintains, for Washington to adopt a more restrained foreign policy based on a sound understanding of how nationalism and realism constrain great powers abroad.

It is widely believed in the West that the United States should spread liberal democracy across the world, foster an open international economy, and build institutions. This policy of remaking the world in America’s image is supposed to protect human rights, promote peace, and make the world safe for democracy. But this is not what has happened. Instead, the United States has ended up as a highly militarized state fighting wars that undermine peace, harm human rights, and threaten liberal values at home. Mearsheimer tells us why this has happened.

©2018 John J. Mearsheimer (P)2018 Audible, Inc. Political Science Politics & Government Human Rights Thought-Provoking Liberalism War Socialism Soviet Union Capitalism Imperialism Social justice Middle East Great Depression History
Brilliant Analysis • Eye-opening Perspective • Clear Framework • Accessible Scholarship • Well-organized Ideas
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Very good. Gives a great overriding arch in history. Long but worth it. I can only recommend it.

Excellent

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Mearsheimer brilliantly probes the subtle and nuanced dimensions of modern foreign policy, at high level commensurate with his decades of scholarship, accessible to any curious reader.

In contrast to the 500 word essays common in typical popular opeds, Mearsheimer does not try paint US foreign policies in pallet consisting of just black and white, or red and blue. His deep analysis, exposes raw the purist ideologies (which I lean towards) of libertarian isolation, neoconservative intervention, or panglossian liberalism as flawed.

Though subtle, his well documented analysis is ultimately optimistic, in that his realist prescriptions based on recognizing the inherent nationalism of all peoples as a force greater than liberal democracy or authoritarian communist philosophies. He argue realism will lead to less foreign intervention, less wars, and less suffering.

Dense, fact filled, sober analysis and prescription

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This is one of the best books I have recently listened to.

Despite the dry nature of the subject, the author and narrator kept me hooked through. Every chapter was a new connection made on concepts I had not fully fleshed out when thinking about the nature of our current world order and it's reasons for the current direction.

Highly recommend if you are trying to better understand the apparent backwards slide in democratic liberties in the west over the last few decades.

Entertaining and Enlightening

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This book is an eye opening perspective toward foreign policy and argues how a realist policy is superior to the idea of liberal hegemony.

A great book on foreign policy

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A solid, unpretentious argument for adopting realism in our foreign policy as opposed to liberal hegemony which is actually supported by both political parties. This book will open your eyes to the disastrous results this approach to foreign policy has provided the US and will give you a broader, more reasoned understanding for why Trump was elected in 2016.

Mr. Mearsheimer is simply a phenomenal thinker/historian with regards to Great Power politics.

I encourage anyone who is curious about world affairs to read this book.

A must read for all Americans

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A very thorough case for the failures of Progressive Liberalism and Liberal Hegemony. Insightful perspective when evaluating the polices of both Republicans and Democrats and wondering “How did we get here?” Especially timely WRT recent events in Ukraine (Feb 2022).

Timely

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elementary book for anyone to understand political theories , also gives an honest opinion on why the US goes on war and why its liberalism gets beaten by nationalism of the invading nation

Clear thought process

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I loved this book but at times it was hard to consume by listening as I had to rewind many times to understand the ideas. But my real criticism is for the performer who should have learned to properly say things like realpolitik before he was allowed to read this book.

Great listen - but pretty dense

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The Great Delusion should be must read for anyone who is trying to understand or is working in international politics. Book is very well organized, ideas are presented very clearly and author makes good work of support it's claims.

Book helped me grasp subtle differences between liberal hegemony, realist policies and nationalism and has definitely helped to refine my views on international politics, de cluttering and clearing the remainders of liberal hegemony ideology in my political views.

Sadly I can conclude that in my case mainstream media was significant force for evil and deception, and probably makes journey of any layman towards realist politics more difficult, while defending crusading impulses by virtue signaling left wing politics.

Also, considering that mainstream media and liberal elites always paint nationalism as force of evil, this book helped me understand why nationalism is force to be reckoned and how it can be force for good. I had gut feeling that nationalism was unjustly portrayed as force for evil and that it's one of main forces of nation-making (I know, it's obvious) but was I unable to come up with argument in defense of positive side of nationalism on my own.

In any case, this book is one of best reads I had on audible and I read a lot.

Excellent, must read book!

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Convincing theory. The results of American foreign policy are obvious, especially on the countries we have attacked, the millions killed, the displaced, the destruction.
It is destroying the American economy, pushing us into debt, destroying the dollar. It is also destroying our own institutions, the justice system, the bureaucracy, education system and making the press a propaganda tool.
The alternative opportunity costs are trillions of dollars.
I don’t think it is just a misplaced value judgement, a desire for utopia.
It is actually a base desire for power, control and wealth by manipulating the government for the benefit of the few by cloaking it all in lies.
Now, we have global warming. The total programming of minds, a new call to war that will funnel money into the hands of the rich.
As good as this book is, it will make no difference. Ukraine is destroyed and many more will die.
China is the wild card, the US has bankrupted itself. The US production has dwindled, the world economy fostered by these people has made it dependent. The US has neither the productive capacity or money to fight a major war against China. We have debt of 32 trillion and 2 trillion in deficits each year, Americans owe 2 to 3 trillion individually and society is collapsing.
That is the true cost of this crazed warmongering, the destruction of America.

Where to?

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