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Why is Ukraine the West's Fault? Featuring John Mearsheimer

The University of Chicago · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Geopolitics & foreign policyUniversity lectures & courses

What it is

University of Chicago lecture in which John Mearsheimer argues the West, through NATO and EU expansion, bears primary responsibility for the Ukraine crisis. He also discusses how to end it and its consequences.

Why Hacker News recommends it

During 2022 HN threads, commenters shared it as the realist counter-perspective to understand the Russian position, though others dispute his record.

  • 9 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2022, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “I understand the Russian position from watching Prof. John Mearsheimer lectures, particularly this one”

    Mearsheimer lecture on the Russian position regarding Ukraine.

    labrador, 2022-01 · Recommendation · in “Russia says Ukraine talks hit 'dead end', Poland warns of risk of war”

  2. “Here’s a good explanation”

    Explains Russia's strategic interest and NATO expansion.

    ivan_gammel, 2022-01 · Recommendation · in “U.S. weighs sending 5k troops to Eastern Europe to counter Russia”

  3. “This perspective is laid out more fully in this talk by John Mearsheimer if you're interested”

    Lays out Putin's perspective on NATO and security.

    Svettie, 2022-02 · Recommendation · in “Twitter based map of Russian troop movements”

  4. “he explains it really well.”

    Short summary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

    bsd44, 2022-02 · Recommendation · in “Cutting Russia off from SWIFT a “matter of days” – euro zone central banker”

  5. “I find his viewpoint helpful as it’s very much Machiavellian and not focused on demonizing the Other.”

    Realist perspective on the conflict, worth looking at.

    ceilingcorner, 2022-02 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: What do you read for a more objective view on the Russia-Ukraine war?”

  6. “The Q/A at the end of John Mearscheimers talk is actually quite interesting.”

    Ukraine as buffer zone; Q&A touches on China and Russia.

    rjzzleep, 2022-03 · Recommendation · in “Russia Cannot Win The War”

  7. “This lecture might be eye opening if any of this sounds contrived or like propaganda.”

    Argues NATO expansion could provoke Russia.

    Barrera, 2022-03 · Recommendation · in “CISA: Shields Up”

  8. “I also think it is crucial to see the whole picture, and to take counter positions into account e.g. this [1] interesting talk by John Mearsheimer.”

    Counter-position talk to consider for the whole picture.

    wuschel, 2022-03 · Recommendation · in “Ukraine accepted to NATO cyber defence centre”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: mearsheimer, ukraine, nato expansion, realpolitik, russia

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