| ID | 116181 |
| Title Proper | Offshore balancing thesis reconsidered |
| Other Title Information | realism, the balance of power in Europe, and America's decision for war in 1917 |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Jackson, Galen |
| Publication | 2012. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | According to John Mearsheimer, the United States entered the First World War because the Wilson administration believed the Triple Entente was on the verge of defeat. As a result, he claims, the Americans entered the war to prevent Germany from becoming a regional hegemon in Europe. A careful and targeted examination of the relevant primary sources, however, demonstrates that Washington was largely unaware of the plight of the Allied powers in the spring of 1917; therefore, the argument that the United States was acting as an offshore balancer at this time is unconvincing. This article shows that unit-level factors and statecraft can play a larger role in international relations than structural realist theory allows and makes an empirical contribution to the World War I literature by demonstrating that balance of power considerations were not a major factor in the Wilson administration's decision for war. |
| `In' analytical Note | Security Studies Vol. 21, No.3; Jul-Sep 2012: p.455-489 |
| Journal Source | Security Studies Vol. 21, No.3; Jul-Sep 2012: p.455-489 |
| Key Words | United States ; World War I ; Germany ; Europe ; Regional Hegemon ; International Relations |