Is Reason Whats Keeping The Eastern Front Quiet?

      Reasoning, Rationality, and Russia

      Even when countries may seem like they are on the brink of war, they will use reason to navigate themselves out of the potential crises. As anarchy may be the only thing visible, states will decidedly act with a reason as seen throughout history. One of those historical moments is currently going on in Eastern Europe as tensions are rising between Ukraine and Russia. Russia currently is amassing around 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border and it seems that a military invasion is imminent, even though Russia has denied any plans of doing so. One of the main aspects that could be preventing this conflict and bloodshed on the eastern side of Europe could be the number of parties involved and what is at stake. In our modern society, it is clear that no nation can simply invade another country without repercussions, and those repercussions today can be more grave than they have been in the past. Not because conflict would be worse but because of how interdependent most modern nations are in our current world. Additionally, there are many global institutions that are inserting themselves into this conflict to help prevent it. This includes NATO, which has vowed to protect Ukraine if there were to be an invasion. Additionally, the EU is not only supporting Ukraine but also talking to Russia to assert the ramifications of this possible military action and prevent the conflict diplomatically if possible. President Biden himself has also pledged action in case of any conflict. But every nation in these international organizations all have connections with Russia in one form another, and even if they were to lash out towards the country to penalize them, it would end up hurting everyone. Interdependence is the current path to prosperity today, and military conflict will only destroy the strides made.

Ukrainian Soldier in a trench in Avdiivka, Ukraine, near the border of Russia (https://www.wsj.com/articles/nato-to-send-ships-jet-fighters-to-eastern-europe-amid-standoff-with-russia-11643026393)                          


It is the fact that all of these nations are tied together that is currently causing the stalemate as no one acts. Once impulsivity dissipates reason sets in as all countries recognize the ramifications of an event like this. Economically it would be a disaster for countries all over the world as Russia is a big economic player, and military the damages it would cause would be astronomical too. This current example is a perfect way to show that not everything is anarchy, but there is reason and rationality in the world. Globalization has connected our modern world in ways unimaginable to people of the past and today it is those connections that keep us all safe. Every country has too much on the line to make a rash decision, and threatening a nation will only lead to attention, where consequences and reason will eventually set in, hopefully preventing the conflict from arising in the first place. Ultimately I am hoping President Putin is bluffing when it comes to this situation because it would be negative to all parties involved. But as of now, I think it is a great example in showing that there is reason in international politics and if anything it has only become more important now. Gone are the days of leaders attacking and taking what they want. The world of anarchy is gone and reason and rationality are the new kings.

Comments

  1. Nick DelpFebruary 5, 2022 at 4:45 PM

    I also wrote about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but what you wrote about was a different approach talking about the rationality and reasoning behind why the countries have not yet broke out in war. I thought it was interesting how you mention how interdependent nations are now a days which makes war a lot more complicated, which I agree with because the sovereignty between nations that reigns around the world today is more respected than it was in the past. Something I do not quite agree with is how you mention that leaders attacking and taking what they want is gone in today's world. I believe this still happens, but at much smaller scales or just not as often as it did in the past when there was colonialism present in the world. I believe Russia is still finding ways to hold sovereignty of the Ukraine with use of force in politics and in military power which means they are just finding new and what appears to be more peaceful means of holding power. This differs from the past of colonialism because of the amount of soft power between so many different nations nowadays.

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  2. Caitie EcknaFebruary 8, 2022 at 1:12 PM

    This is a very interesting approach on the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. It is clear how the proceeding of an invasion would lead to consequences for the world. I would agree that military action would lead to the destruction of these important connections between countries. I find it interesting how you incorporate reason and rationality into this issue and your opinion that international relations does take into account these factors. I would also hope that reason and being rational will prevail in this issue but will this always be true?

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  3. Logan DeacetisFebruary 9, 2022 at 4:37 PM

    I found this conflict between Ukraine and Russia to be pretty interesting. I liked how you described how the war would not only affect Ukraine and Russia, but also the entire world. Also, the quote about how "Once impulsivity dissipates reason sets in" is very important and more people should recognize this. Do you think that without NATO backing up Ukraine, do you think Putin would have started a war by now? What do you think Putin's purpose of all this is.

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