U.S. foreign policy is widely debated and contested around the world, and the main reason for this is the fact that U.S. foreign policy decisions have had global consequences for a long time. So much so that International Relations (IR) is claimed to be an American social science. Despite this widespread interest, however, there is no consensus on what variables actually determine U.S. foreign policy. John J. Mearsheimer’s The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities provides a convincing explanation of what drives U.S. foreign policy, and sets the ground for a fruitful debate.

U.S. foreign policy is widely debated and contested around the world, and the main reason for this is the fact that U.S. foreign policy decisions have had global consequences for a long time. So much so that International Relations (IR) is claimed to be an American social science. Despite this widespread interest, however, there is no consensus on what variables actually determine U.S. foreign policy. John J. Mearsheimer’s The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities provides a convincing explanation of what drives U.S. foreign policy, and sets the ground for a fruitful debate.