Assessment On The Power And Security Concept Of Aggressive Realism

The end of the cold war indicates the termination of a history and marks the beginning of a new history. In the historical transition from the cold war era to the post-cola war era,the development of theories of international relations,which should take historical backgrounds into consideration, is characterized by quests, rethinks, debates and prospects. Among those theories,offensive realism, by John J. Mearsheimer, professor of Politics Department,Chicago University,as the representaive of this thoery,is quite conspicuous.Offensive realism theory holds that the nature of international relations is discord. In an "anarchic" world composed of sovereign nation-states, the increase of security in one country will inevitably be considered to be a dangerous signal by other ones. So the security dilema turns to be the most annoying problem among powers. In the power-security competition caused by the security dilemma,the best way to ensure existing for a country is to expand her relative power. The more power a nation has, the greater its chances of survival in the anarchic world. The best defense is the most effective offense when refers to maintain power. So the ultimate goal of great powers is to achieve regional or global hegemony.Offensive realism accepts cooperation,but consider it to be an expedient measure.Offensive realism analyzed power-security competition among great powers and the action mode of them.in spite of its shortcomings,the anaiysis is helpful to us when understanding the nature of international relations.It stimulates our thinkings of current politics.