▁in ▁off ensive ▁ne ore al ism , ▁the ▁international ▁system ▁provides ▁great ▁powers ▁with ▁strong ▁in cent ives ▁to ▁resort ▁to ▁off ensive ▁action ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁increase ▁their ▁security ▁and ▁ass ure ▁their ▁surv ival . ▁ ▁The ▁international ▁system ▁character ised ▁by ▁an archy ▁( the ▁absence ▁of ▁a ▁central ▁authority ▁capable ▁of ▁enfor cing ▁rules ▁and ▁pun ishing ▁ag gress ors ) ▁and ▁uncertainty ▁as ▁to ▁state ▁intent ions ▁and ▁available ▁off ensive ▁military ▁capabilities ▁leads ▁states ▁to ▁constantly ▁fear ▁each ▁other ▁and ▁resort ▁to ▁self - help ▁mechan isms ▁to ▁provide ▁for ▁their ▁surv ival . ▁In ▁order ▁to ▁alle vi ate ▁this ▁fear ▁of ▁ag gression ▁each ▁holds ▁of ▁the ▁other , ▁states ▁always ▁seek ▁to ▁maxim ise ▁their ▁own ▁relative ▁power , ▁defined ▁in ▁terms ▁of ▁material ▁capabilities . ▁As ▁M ear she imer ▁puts ▁it : ▁" they ▁look ▁for ▁opportun ities ▁to ▁alter ▁the ▁balance ▁of ▁power ▁by ▁acqu iring ▁additional ▁incre ments ▁of ▁power ▁at ▁the ▁exp ense ▁of ▁potential ▁riv als ", ▁since ▁" the ▁greater ▁the ▁military ▁advantage ▁one ▁state ▁has ▁over ▁other ▁states , ▁the ▁more ▁secure ▁it ▁is ". ▁States ▁seek ▁to ▁increase ▁their ▁military ▁strength ▁to ▁the ▁det r iment ▁of ▁other ▁states ▁within ▁the ▁system ▁with ▁h eg em ony — be ing ▁the ▁only ▁great ▁power ▁in ▁the ▁state ▁system — as ▁their ▁ult imate ▁goal . ▁ ▁John ▁M ear she imer ▁sum med ▁up ▁this ▁view ▁as ▁follows : ▁" gre at ▁powers ▁recognize