Offensive realism is a structural theory belonging to the realist school of thought first postulated by John Mearsheimer that holds the anarchic nature of the international system responsible for aggressive state behaviour in international politics. It fundamentally differs from defensive realism by depicting great powers as power-maximising revisionists privileging buck-passing over balancing strategies in their ultimate aim to dominate the international system. The theory brings important contributions for the study and understanding of international relations but remains nonetheless the subject of criticism.
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