Why Leaders Lie

The Truth About Lying in International Politics

This book provides a systematic analysis of political deception and lying as a deliberate instrument of statecraft. The author examines why leaders lie to other countries as well as to their own publics during crises and international disputes. Drawing on historical examples across modern foreign policy, the work identifies patterns and motives behind strategic falsehoods in global politics. It offers a critical perspective on how deception shapes international relations and influences geopolitical outcomes.

by John Mearsheimer

Oxford University Press · First published 2010 · 160 pages