In late August 2006, John Mearsheimer and Steve Walt published a book called 'The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy', ever since life, says Mearsheimer, has been fundamentally altered.
"If you criticise Israel or criticise the lobby, you pay a significant price and most people are unwilling to pay this price," Mearsheimer told Al Jazeera.
A specialist of international politics and author of several books, Mearsheimer maintains a critical view of United States foreign policy with special emphasis on its Middle East policies.
He argues that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) will not be defeated in traditional warfare because "you do not defeat an ideology".
Mearsheimer is working on a new book that tackles the relationship between liberalism and nationalism in international politics.
"My argument is that nationalism is the most powerful ideology on the planet and, whenever liberalism and nationalism clash, nationalism wins almost every time," he said.Al Jazeera
He spoke to Al Jazeera about the war on ISIL, US foreign policy and the Palestinian question.
Why ISIL won't be defeated
John Mearsheimer | R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and the co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago
He may be right, to the extent that ISIL is supported by local Sunni populations. It's next to impossible to defeat a guerrila movement that is supported by locals (see Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc..)
ReplyDeleteUltimately peace will either require 1) convincing Sunnis that they're better off in a secular federation or 2) Balkanization.
"whenever liberalism and nationalism clash, nationalism wins almost every time,"
ReplyDeleteWhat contemporary world is this guy living in? Unless it is just taking a loooooonggg time...