The Tragedy Of Great Power Politics

Mearsheimer explores the intricacies of power in international politics, focusing on how power is defined and measured, and its relation to military might. He emphasizes that power in international politics is fundamentally about material capabilities, particularly military power, which is a product of a state’s latent power (socioeconomic resources) and military forces.

Mearsheimer starts by distinguishing two kinds of power: latent power and military power. Latent power, rooted in a state’s socioeconomic capabilities, is the foundation upon which military power is built. This power is largely determined by a state’s wealth and population size. Wealth is crucial because it allows states to build, sustain, and modernize their military forces. However, Mearsheimer notes, “In international politics [...] a state’s effective power is ultimately a function of its military forces and how they compare with the military forces of rival states” (44).

The effectiveness of power is not just about possessing material resources but also how they are transformed into military capabilities. This transformation and its efficiency can vary significantly among states, affecting the balance of power. For example, during the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States had differing economic and technological capabilities, leading to divergent military potentials.