The Great Delusion

Liberal Dreams and International Realities

By: John J. Mearsheimer

Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Timely

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).

A must read for all Americans

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 great book on foreign policy

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

Excellent

Very good. Gives a great overriding arch in history. Long but worth it. I can only recommend it.

Dense, fact filled, sober analysis and prescription

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.

Entertaining and Enlightening

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.

Multipolar world

Excellent arguments! Nationalism is an unbeatable force. There’s no way to win the hearts and minds of others. Nationalism has already done it.

Excellent book!

Very clear and straight forward. Everybody should read it. The first part focussed on politics 101. The las part was increadibly accurate with current events.

Great listen - but pretty dense

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.

Excellent, must read book!

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.