Olin HomeAboutLecture SeriesConferences Faculty

The John M. Olin Center for Inquiry into the Theory and Practice of Democracy

John J. Mearsheimer

Curriculum Vitae

Current Position:

R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor
University of Chicago

Co-director, Program on International Security Policy 
University of Chicago

 

Office Address:

Political Science Department
University of Chicago
5828 S. University Avenue
Chicago, IL  60637

Important Numbers:

Office Phone: 773-702-8667
Office FAX: 773-702-1689
e-mail: j-mearsheimer@uchicago.edu

Education:

Ph.D. (Government), Cornell University, 1981
M.A. (Government), Cornell University, 1978
M.A. (International Relations), University of Southern California, 1974
B.S. West Point, 1970

Honors:

Whitney H. Shepardson Fellowship, Council on Foreign Relations, 1998-1999 
Quantrell Award for Distinguished Teaching, University of Chicago, 1985
Clark Award for Distinguished Teaching, Cornell University, 1977
PhD dissertation, honorable mention for APSA's 1980-81 Helen Dwight Reid  Award
Conventional Deterrence, recipient of 1983 Edgar S. Furniss, Jr., Book Award 
Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar, 1993-1994
George Kistiakowsky Scholar for 1986-1987, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.   

Academic Positions:

1975-1979, Graduate Student, Cornell University
1979-1980, Research Fellow, Brookings Institution 
1980-1982, Research Associate, CFIA, Harvard University 
1982-Present, member, Political Science Department, University of Chicago [Assistant Prof., 1982-1984; Associate Prof., 1984-1987; Professor, 1987-1995; Harrison Chair, 1996-Present; Department Chair, 1989-1992.]
1992-1993, Visiting Scholar, Olin Institute for Strategic Studies, Harvard University

Books:

John J. Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (New York: Norton, 2001).
John J. Mearsheimer, Liddell Hart and the Weight of History  (New York: Cornell University Press; London: Brassey's,  1988).
John J. Mearsheimer, Conventional Deterrence (New York: Cornell University Press, 1983).

Articles and Book Chapters:

John J. Mearsheimer, "The Future of the American Pacifier," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 80, No. 5 (September/October, 2001), pp. 46-61.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Kissinger's Wisdom ... and Advice," The National Interest, No. 65 (Fall 2001), pp. 123-129.

John J. Mearsheimer, "The Case for Partitioning Kosovo," in Ted Galen Carpenter, ed., NATO's Empty Victory: A Postmortem on the Balkan War (Washington, DC: CATO Institute, 2000), pp. 133-138.

John J. Mearsheimer, "The Aims of Education," and "Teaching Morality at the Margins," in Philosophy and Literature, Vol. 22, No. 1 (April 1998), pp. 137-155, 193-198.

John J. Mearsheimer, "The Future of America's Continental Commitment," in Geir Lundestad, ed., No End To Alliance: The United States and Western Europe (New York: St. Martin's, 1998), pp. 221-242.

John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen Van Evera, "When Peace Means War," New Republic, December 18, 1995, pp. 16-21.

John J. Mearsheimer, "A Realist Reply," International Security, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Summer 1995), pp. 82-93.  [My response to four articles responding to my "False Promise" piece.]

John J. Mearsheimer, "The False Promise of International Institutions," International Security, Vol. 19, No. 3 (Winter 1994/1995), pp. 5-49.  Reprinted in Michael E. Brown et al., eds., The Perils of Anarchy: Contemporary Realism and International Security (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1995), pp. 332-376; Michael E. Brown et al., eds., Theories of War and Peace: An International Security Reader (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1998), pp. 329-383; Karen Mingst and Jack Snyder, eds., Essential Readings in World Politics (New York: Norton, 2000).  Originally published as Working Paper No. 10 for the Project on the Changing Security Environment and American National Interests, John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies, Harvard University, November 1994.

John J. Mearsheimer, "The Case for a Ukrainian Nuclear Deterrent," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 72, No. 3 (Summer 1993), pp. 50-66.

John J. Mearsheimer and Robert A. Pape, "The Answer: A Three-Way Partition Plan for Bosnia And How the U.S. Can Enforce It," The New Republic, June 14, 1993, pp. 22-28.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Disorder Restored," in Graham Allison and Gregory Treverton, eds., Rethinking America's Security:  Beyond Cold War to New World Order (New York: Norton, 1992), pp. 213-237.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Back to the Future:  Instability in Europe After the Cold War," International Security, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Summer 1990), pp. 5-56.  Reprinted in Sean M. Lynn-Jones, ed., The Cold War and After:  Prospects for Peace (Cambridge, Mass.:  MIT Press, 1991), pp. 141-192; Michael E. Brown et al., eds., The Perils of Anarchy: Contemporary Realism and International Security (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1995), pp. 78-129. and Michael E. Brown et al., eds., Theories of War and Peace: An International Security Reader (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1998), pp. 3-54.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Correspondence:  Back to the Future, Part III:  Realism and the Realities of European Security," International Security, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Winter 1990/1991), pp. 219-222.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Correspondence:  Back to the Future, Part II:  International Relations Theory and Post-Cold War Europe," International Security, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Fall 1990), pp. 194-199.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Why We Will Soon Miss the Cold War," The Atlantic, August 1990, pp. 35-50.  Reprinted in numerous places.  Also see "Letters to the Editor:  The Cold War Reconsidered," The Atlantic, November 1990, pp. 8-16.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Assessing the Conventional Balance: The 3:1 Rule and Its Critics," International Security, Vol. 13, No. 4 (Spring 1989), pp. 54-89.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Correspondence: Reassessing Assessment," International Security, Vol. 13, No. 4 (Spring 1989), pp. 128-144.

John J. Mearsheimer,  "Numbers, Strategy, and the European Balance," International Security, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Spring 1988),  pp. 174-185.

John J. Mearsheimer, "A Strategic Misstep: The Maritime Strategy and Deterrence in Europe," International Security, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Fall 1986), pp. 3-57.  Reprinted in Robert J. Art and Kenneth N. Waltz, eds., The Use of Force, 3rd ed. (New York: University Press of America, 1988), pp. 590-617; and Steven E. Miller and Stephen Van Evera, eds., Naval Strategy and National Security (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1988), pp. 47-101.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Prospects for Conventional Deterrence in Europe," The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Vol. 41, No. 7 (August 1985), pp. 158-162.  Reprinted in Len Ackland and Steven McGuire, eds., Assessing the Nuclear Age (Chicago: Education Foundation for Nuclear Science, 1986), pp. 335-343.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Nuclear Weapons and Deterrence in Europe," International Security, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Winter 1984/1985), pp. 19-46.  Reprinted in Hylke Tromp, ed., War in Europe (Aldershot, Eng.: Avebury, 1989), pp. 71-100.

John J. Mearsheimer, "The Military Reform Movement: A Critical Assessment," ORBIS, Vol. 27, No. 2 (Summer 1983), pp. 285-300.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Why the Soviets Can't Win Quickly in Central Europe," International Security, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Summer 1982), pp. 3-39.  Reprinted in Robert J. Art and Kenneth N. Waltz, eds., The Use of Force, 3rd ed. (New York: University Press of America, 1988), pp. 442-463; and Steven E. Miller, ed., Conventional Forces and American Defense Policy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1986), pp. 121-157. 

John J. Mearsheimer, "Maneuver, Mobile Defense and the NATO Central Front," International Security, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Winter 1981/1982), pp. 104-122.  Reprinted in Steven E. Miller, ed., Conventional Forces and American Defense Policy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1986), pp. 231-249.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Correspondence" [regarding the "British Generals Talk"], International Security, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Winter 1981/82), pp. 227-229.

John J. Mearsheimer, "The British Generals Talk," International Security,  Vol. 6, No. 1 (Summer 1981), pp. 165-184. 

John J. Mearsheimer, "Rejoinder" in "Debate on Precision‑guided Munitions," Survival, Vol. XXII, No. 1 (January-February 1980), pp. 20-22.

John J. Mearsheimer, "Precision‑guided Munitions and Conventional Deterrence,"  Survival, Vol. XXI, No. 2 (March-April 1979), pp. 68-76.

Important Op-Ed Pieces:

John J. Mearsheimer, "A War the U.S. Can Win - Decisively," Chicago Tribune, January 15, 1991. 

John J. Mearsheimer, "Will Iraq Fight or Fold Its Tent? Liberation in Less Than a Week," New York Times, February 8, 1991. 

John J. Mearsheimer, "Shrink Bosnia to Save It," New York Times, March 31, 1993. 

John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen Van Evera, "Hateful Neighbors," New York Times, September 24, 1996. 

John J. Mearsheimer, "The Only Exit From Bosnia," New York Times, October 7, 1997. 

John J. Mearsheimer, "Here We Go Again," New York Times, May 17, 1998. 

John J. Mearsheimer, "A Peace Agreement That's Bound To Fail," New York Times, October 19, 1998. 

John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen Van Evera, "Redraw the Map, Stop the Killing," New York Times, April 19, 1999. 

John J. Mearsheimer, "India Needs The Bomb," New York Times, March 24, 2000.  

John J. Mearsheimer, "The Impossible Partition," New York Times, January 11, 2001.

Work Experience:

July 1981-July 1982, Executive Secretary, Strategy and Arms Control Seminar, Harvard University.

May 1978-August 1978, Internship at the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency  (ACDA),  Washington, D.C.

June 1970-August 1975, Officer, U.S. Air Force.

June 1965-July 1966, Enlisted Man, U.S. Army.

 

Other:

Consultant, Rand Corporation.

Secretary-Treasurer, Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society.

Member, Editorial Board, International Security.

Member, Editorial Board, Security Studies.

Member, Editorial Board, International History Review (1997-2000).

Member, Editorial Board, JFQ: Joint Forces Quarterly.

Member, Council on Foreign Relations (New York).

Member, Standing Committe on Foreign Affairs of the CFR.

Member, Chicago Council on Foreign Relations.

Member, International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Member, International Academic Advisory Board, BESA Center for Strategic Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Israel.

Senior Fellow, John M. Olin Center for Inquiry Into the Theory and Practice of Democracy, University of Chicago.

Testified before Senate Foreign Relations Committee on October 3, 1985.  See U.S. Congress, SFRC, A NATO Strategy for the 1990's, Part 5, 99th Cong., 1st Sess., October 3, 1985.

Testified before Senate Armed Services Committee on October 20, 1987.  See U.S. Congress, SASC, Alliance and Defense Capabilities in Europe, 100th Cong., 1st Sess., October 20, 1987.  Also reprinted in John T. Rourke, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in World Politics, 2nd ed. (Guilford, Ct.:  Dushkin, 1989), pp. 224-230.

Co-chairman (with John L. Gaddis) of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences' "Committee on History, the Social Sciences and International Security Affairs," 1987-1990.

Section Chairperson for "National Security Policy" for the 1987 American Political Science Association Convention.

Member, Chicago Study Group on U.S. National Interests after the Cold War (Sponsored by Council on Foreign Relations), 1996.

Member, 1999 James Madison Award Selection Committee, American Political Science Association

  

[September 22, 2001]

 

Olin HomeAboutLecture SeriesConferences Faculty

HTML ©1999 The John M. Olin Center for Inquiry into the Theory and Practice of Democracy, University of Chicago
Revised: December 17th, 1999
http://olincenter.uchicago.edu/mearsheimer_cv.html