Professor John Mearsheimer about the US policy in the Middle East and Ukraine – our account of the lectures with photos

On 8th and 9th December 2015, the Jagiellonian University hosted a couple of lectures on the Middle East and the so-called Ukraine crisis by one of the most influential international relations theorists Professor John Mearsheimer from the University of Chicago.

The US foreign policy in the Middle East

The first lecture entitled US Middle East Policy Since 9/11: One Disaster after Another took place on 8th December in the Libraria room in Collegium Maius at the Jagiellonian University. It was part of a seminar organized by the Polish Society of International Studies and the Institute of Political Science and International Relations of the Jagiellonian University. The lecture was opened by Professor Andrzej Mania, the Chairman of the Kraków branch of the Polish Society of International Studies, and Professor Artur Gruszczak from the Department of National Security introduced the guest and presided over the whole event.

In his lecture, Professor Mearsheimer discussed the meaning of the Middle East in the US foreign policy, the history of US policy in the region and the American efforts to change the authorities in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Egypt after the 9/11 attacks. In relation to this last point, Professor pointed out not only the fact that the efforts have failed but also their wider and negative consequences in the form of the growing terrorist movements, the suffering of the innocent civilians, reinforcing the Sunni-Shi'a divide and how it all contributed to the refugee crisis in Europe.

Other points discussed in the lecture were the US foreign policy toward Israel (including the failed peace process), Iran (successful negotiations on Iran's nuclear program) and the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). This last issue was treated with particular attention. Professor Mearsheimer concluded that the USA is trying to achieve two different and conflicting goals, i.e. defeat the ISIS and overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

On the subject of conflicting elements in the US policy forwards ISIS, Professor Mearsheimer made some interesting remarks: (1) to defeat ISIS requires of the USA to co-operate with Russia and Iran; (2) it is not only about the military defeat of ISIS because the fighters can hide among civilians and renew the fight after the USA withdraws; (3) greater military engagement of the USA will contribute to the growth of anti-western sentiment in the Middle East and will reinforce terrorism.

The lecture ended with an interesting discussion with members of the seminar. Professor Mearsheimer answered over a dozen questions from the audience, e.g. on other than the USA factors shaping the situation in the Middle East and on a wider context of the US promotion of democracy in other regions of the world. The seminar that the lecture was a part of generated great interest. The Libraria room was completely filled with over 80 people.

The roots of the so-called Ukraine crisis

The second lecture by Professor Mearsheimer, Why the West – Not Putin – Is Responsible for the Ukraine Crisis, was held on 9th December in the Main Auditorium of Collegium Novum at the Jagiellonian University. It was organized by the Polish Society of International Studies and the Association of International and Area Studies of the Jagiellonian University. The lecture was opened by Professor Andrzej Mania, and then it was presided over by doctor Marcin Grabowski from the Chair in the History of Diplomacy and International Politics.

Our guest from the USA discussed the so-called Ukraine crisis from the perspective of offensive realism, a theory of international relations postulated by Professor Mearsheimer himself and quite influential around the world. The theory recognizes regional and world powers as the main actors shaping international relations and limiting the smaller states' and their nations' right to independence.

The first and most detailed part of the lecture was devoted to the roots of the Ukraine crisis. On the one hand, Professor said that the source of the current crisis lies in the long-term direct actions of the West to increase western influence in Ukraine by promising membership in the NATO and the EU and the support it had lent to pro-Western elites within Ukraine. On the other hand, the determination of the Russian Federation to keep exercising its influence in this state is another source of the problem.

Commenting on Russia's reaction to the shift of power in Ukraine, our guest indicated that Russia has on numerous occasions warned the West against the consequences of inviting Ukraine to join the Western institutions. At the same time, Professor Mearsheimer declared he did not agree with the common opinion that the Russian Federation's policy is a result of irrational actions of President Putin or the attempts at creating the great Russia. The professor from Chicago believes that the Russian leader acts logically and in tune with the tenets of realism. Additionally, Russia does not have the potential to rebuild its empire as it is weaker and weaker as a world power.

In conclusion of his lecture, Professor Mearsheimer gave a few recommendations how the crisis could be resolved. First of all, Ukraine should be declared a neutral state, outside of any military or economic alliances (NATO, EU). As a result, it could serve as a buffer state between the NATO and Russia and its allies. Secondly, a plan of economic aid for Ukraine should be prepared by the International Monetary Fund, Russia and the European Union. And thirdly, Ukraine should guarantee minority rights, including the right concerning minority languages.

After the lecture, Professor Mearsheimer answered a number of questions from the audience. They were mostly on the Ukrainians' right to autonomy as well as Poland's security. On the former issue, our guest stressed that he is not an adversary of the Ukrainian state, but he only presents recommendations that are necessary to end the conflict from the point of view of his theory. In relation to Poland, Professor deemed our country secure, mostly because the conflict in the East increased the US interest in the region and Russia itself will be getting weaker and weaker with time due to e.g. its demographics.

At the end, Julian Laufs from the Association of International and Area Studies of JU thanked Professor Mearsheimer and presented him with some gadgets with the AIAS logo.

The lecture gathered around 200 people who filled the Auditorium in Collegium Novum. After the official part, many students stayed to ask Professor some further questions.