Changes

Prof. Mearsheimer describes Russia's relations with the West and Vlaimir Putins ambitions as such:

Prof. Mearsheimer describes Russia's relations with the West and Vlaimir Putins ambitions as such:

{{Cquote|The conventional wisdom in [[the West]] regarding the [[Ukraine war]] makes it sound like [[Russia]] is behaving in [[Europe]] the way [[China]] is acting in [[Asia]]. [[Putin]] is said to have [[imperial]] ambitions that begin with creating a greater Russia along the lines of the old [[Soviet Union]] and then re-conquering the former buffer countries of the [[Warsaw Pact]], ultimately threatening the security of all Europe. Ukraine, which he purportedly aims to conquer and integrate into Russia, is his first but not his last target. In this view, what [[NATO]] is doing in Ukraine is containing Russian power, much the way it prevented the Soviet Union from dominating all of Europe during the [[cold war]].

{{Cquote|The conventional wisdom in [[the West]] regarding the [[Ukraine war]] makes it sound like [[Russia]] is behaving in [[Europe]] the way [[China]] is acting in [[Asia]]. [[Putin]] is said to have [[imperialism|imperial]] ambitions that begin with creating a greater Russia along the lines of the old [[Soviet Union]] and then re-conquering the former buffer countries of the [[Warsaw Pact]], ultimately threatening the security of all Europe. Ukraine, which he purportedly aims to conquer and integrate into Russia, is his first but not his last target. In this view, what [[NATO]] is doing in Ukraine is containing Russian power, much the way it prevented the Soviet Union from dominating all of Europe during the [[cold war]].

This story, no matter how often it is repeated, is a [[myth]]. There is no evidence that Putin wants to incorporate all of Ukraine into Russia or seeks to conquer any other country in [[eastern Europe]]. Furthermore, Russia does not have the [[military]] capability to achieve that ambitious goal, much less become a European hegemon.<ref>[https://mondediplo.com/2023/08/02great-powers Great power rivalries: the case for realism], John J. Mearsheimer, ''Le Monde diplomatique'', August 2023.</ref>

This story, no matter how often it is repeated, is a [[myth]]. There is no evidence that Putin wants to incorporate all of Ukraine into Russia or seeks to conquer any other country in [[eastern Europe]]. Furthermore, Russia does not have the [[military]] capability to achieve that ambitious goal, much less become a European hegemon.<ref>[https://mondediplo.com/2023/08/02great-powers Great power rivalries: the case for realism], John J. Mearsheimer, ''Le Monde diplomatique'', August 2023.</ref>}}

== Books ==

== Books ==