Why “offensive realism” is unrealistic theory of international relations?
Related topics: International relations and diplomacy
Author: Aldo Matteucci
In his latest blog, Aldo Matteucci, Diplo’s resident contrarian, questions the function of academia in modern society. According to Aldo, ‘It is a game an elite plays when it has lost its social function – i.e. has become a caste, living off a rent. Rentiers live by entitlement, and their only concern is to limit their own number.’ Although it does not benefit society, this social function is tolerable if it is contained within its circles (conferences, papers, peer reviews). The problems start when some of these thoughts spill over into the general public sphere and influence events. As an illustration of this risk, Aldo analyses J. Mearsheimer’s concept of ‘offensive realism’ (Mearsheimer has been named influential thinker in international relations).
6th AI Policy Summit 2025
03 Oct 25 - 04 Oct 25ETH Zurich, Online
Gender and Tech Online Talk Series: Digital Colonialism
25 Apr 25 - 25 Apr 25Online
The role of diplomacy in AI geopolitics | Poland diplomatic academy
28 Mar 25 - 28 Mar 25Warsaw
Briefing on digital governance for Armenian CSOs
09 Apr 25 - 09 Apr 25Online
Training for the Republic of Serbia Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection
04 Apr 25 - 04 Apr 25Belgrade
Tackling disinformation, protecting democratic governance: Challenges and opportunities
12 Mar 25 - 12 Mar 25
Digital Sovereignty and the open internet: Can they coexist?
04 Apr 25 - 04 Apr 25Online
Impact of AI on international law
06 Mar 25 - 06 Mar 25Geneva
25th European Diplomatic Programme: The use of AI in diplomacy
21 Nov 24 - 22 Nov 24Budapest, Hungary
Leadership training on AI and diplomacy @ the UAE diplomatic academy
18 Nov 24 - 20 Nov 24Abu Dhabi, UAE
UN Cybercrime Convention: What does it mean and how will it impact all of us?
22 Oct 24 - 22 Oct 24Online
Kuwait Diplomatic Institute: Executive training in Diplomatic Negotiations and AI and Diplomacy
22 Apr 24 - 26 Apr 24Malta, in situ
Geopolitics of the deep sea: The ocean’s hidden war
Beneath the waves lies a geopolitical battleground over the future of critical minerals. As demand for rare metals surges, nations and corporations are racing to unlock the ocean’s mineral wealth, r[...]
13 May, 2025
Digital sovereignty: The end of the open internet as we know it? (Part 1)
The concept of digital sovereignty has gained prominence. This discussion examines the tension between territorial politics and transborder digital operations, highlighting how demands for autonomy re[...]
03 Apr, 2025
Ethics and AI | Part 6
The EU AI Act is the world’s first comprehensive legal framework regulating AI, balancing innovation with fundamental rights protection. By adopting a risk-based approach and emphasising transparenc[...]
20 Mar, 2025
Ethics and AI | Part 5
The Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence marks a historic step as the first legally binding international treaty on AI, emphasising human rights, democracy, and the ru[...]
12 Mar, 2025
Data embassies: Protecting nations in the cloud
In an era where cyber threats, natural disasters, and geopolitical instability pose risks to digital infrastructure, data embassies offer nations a secure way to protect critical information beyond th[...]
06 Mar, 2025
Ethics and AI | Part 4
The UN's ethical AI principles strive to balance innovation with accountability, emphasising "do no harm," sustainability, and human oversight. However, as AI governance remains largely voluntary, the[...]
04 Mar, 2025
Ethics and AI | Part 3
UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence sets a global standard for AI governance, emphasising human rights, fairness, and accountability. By addressing both visible and hidd[...]
25 Feb, 2025
Nation 4.0*: The transformative force in Serbia
Serbian students are rewriting nationalism – not as division, but as solidarity. Serbs, Bosniaks, and members of other ethnic communities stand together, proving patriotism is about who you stand be[...]
20 Feb, 2025
Ethics and AI | Part 2
AI ethics is not a mere extension of traditional moral principles but an inflection point that challenges how we define responsibility, oversight, and trust in technology. While AI itself remains mora[...]
18 Feb, 2025
Ethics and AI | Part 1
AI innovation is evolving rapidly, often outpacing laws and ethical safeguards, leaving regulators struggling to keep up. While technology promises efficiency and progress, it also carries risks that [...]
11 Feb, 2025
How Gen Z took us by surprise: The unexpected journey of Serbian students
Imagine 100,000 people standing in utmost silence for 15 minutes, with their phone flashlights pointed at the sky. They pay tribute to the 15 innocent people who died under the rubble of the collapsed[...]
05 Feb, 2025
DeepSeek: Some trade-related aspects of the breakthrough
DeepSeek's release of a cost-effective large language model has sparked discussions about trade and technology access. This innovation showcases how export controls, like those imposed by the US, can [...]
31 Jan, 2025
2024
Tech Diplomacy: Actors, Trends, and Controversies
In today’s world, tech diplomacy bridges governments and tech companies, focusing on governance, policy, and cooperation in digital technologies and... Read more
2024
Statecraft and foreign policy: India, 1947–2023
Statecraft and Foreign Policy provides an in-depth understanding of India’s rise as an economic and political power and its role in addressing globa... Read more
2024
*UPCOMING* Understanding AI through national flags
Understanding how AI functions is becoming necessary for everyone, from citizens to societal leaders. Citizens’ basic rights and well-being can be a... Read more
2022
Journal of Moral Theology, Vol. 11, Special Issue no. 1, Spring 2022, “Artificial Intelligence”
Journal of Moral Theology dedicated special issue on 'artificial intelligence'.... Read more
2021
OK Corral 140 Years Later: Between Frontier Violence and the Emerging Rule of Law
It was a hundred and forty years ago today that Wyatt Earp took his group to fight the outlaws of the Clanton gang. It was a bright, windy and chill... Read more
2020
Virtual Reality and the Future of Peacemaking (Briefing Paper #14)
The briefing paper discusses the potential of virtual reality in fostering peacebuilding efforts worldwide. Through VR technology, individuals can dev... Read more
2019
International cyber security diplomatic negotiations: Role of Africa in inter-regional cooperation for a global approach on the security and stability of cyberspace
This research paper examines African countries cybersecurity readiness and how Africa can play a role in shaping international negotiations and discus... Read more
2019
The Diplomacy of Ancient Greece – A Short Introduction
Employed against a warlike background, the diplomatic methods of the ancient Greeks are thought by some to have been useless but by others to have bee... Read more
2019
Diplomatic Security under a Comparative Lens – Or Not?
“Diplomatic security” is the term now usually preferred to “diplomatic protection” for the steps taken by states to safeguard the fabric of th... Read more
2018
A Tipping Point for the Internet: Predictions for 2018 (Briefing Paper #9)
The briefing paper discusses various predictions for the internet in 2018, focusing on key trends and developments that will shape the digital landsca... Read more
2018
Searching for Meaningful Human Control. The April 2018 Meeting on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (Briefing Paper #10)
In this briefing paper, Ms Barbara Rosen Jacobson analyses the debate of the April 2018 meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) of the Conv... Read more
2018
Developing Community-level Capacity Assessment Tools: Perspectives and Practical Applications in the Context of Rural Africa (Briefing Paper #11)
The message provides an overview of developing community-level capacity assessment tools relevant to rural Africa to improve local development strateg... Read more
The latest from Diplo and GIP
Tailor your subscription to your interests, from updates on the dynamic world of digital diplomacy to the latest trends in AI.
Subscribe to more Diplo and Geneva Internet Platform newsletters!
Diplo: Effective and inclusive diplomacy
Diplo is a non-profit foundation established by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo works to increase the role of small and developing states, and to improve global governance and international policy development.
