John J. Mearsheimer (b. 1947) and Sebastian Rosato (b. 1972) are two of the most influential representatives of the Realist school in contemporary international relations theory, whose joint research raises fundamental questions about the rationality and strategic thinking of great powers. Mearsheimer is a Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, world-renowned for his concept of "offensive realism," while Rosato is a Professor at the University of Notre Dame and a leading expert on European integration and democratic peace. Both possess formidable academic backgrounds from elite institutions - Mearsheimer is a graduate of West Point and Cornell, while Rosato earned degrees from Oxford, Cambridge, and the University of Chicago, ensuring exceptional theoretical density in their analyses.
The professional trajectory of this duo is marked by an uncompromising defense of rational analysis in politics, even when it contradicts prevailing liberal dogmas. John Mearsheimer has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious James Madison Award, and is recognized as one of the most-cited political thinkers in the world. Sebastian Rosato has established himself as a keen theorist whose research on the balance of power and nuclear deterrence is considered a benchmark in academia. Together, they have developed comprehensive theories explaining state behavior as a function of the drive for security and survival within an anarchic international system.
Within the Iztok-Zapad Publishing House catalog, John Mearsheimer and Sebastian Rosato are featured with their fundamental work that redefines the nature of statecraft:
- "How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy" – A landmark study proving that despite perceived chaos, states act rationally based on coherent theories of the world and careful strategic calculations;
- "The Tragedy of Great Power Politics" (Mearsheimer) – A classic work on the inevitability of competition for hegemony in the international system;
- "The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities" (Mearsheimer) – A critical analysis of the failures of liberal foreign policy in the post-Cold War era.
Today, Mearsheimer and Rosato remain leading authorities in the global debate on the future of the world order, advocating that rationality is at the core of state survival. Their works are essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the logic behind major geopolitical conflicts and the mechanisms through which great powers navigate an increasingly unpredictable international environment.
