Blog 1 - Nick Delp

 https://news.virginia.edu/content/russia-ukraine-crisis-whats-going-and-why-americans-must-pay-attention

Balance of power and security dilemma in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict

In class we covered topics about balancing of power between states and the security dilemma. The two terms that were covered in class are related in terms of a state wanting to be well preserved and secure. Balancing power between states causes states to rise against another more powerful state for its own security, while a security dilemma causes states to be more secure making others feel less secure. These concepts can be applied to states and nations all throughout history and even in our world right now. From the news today we see how Russia  has tensions with Ukraine which could very well lead to war based on what Russia has been doing at the Ukrainian border. 

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has a long history, and today the conflict that is now boiling up to the surface is based upon balance of power. Ukraine in the eyes of Russia is not looked at as an independent country, and for the last 30 years Ukraine has struggled to form a single identity. Now the balance of power is apparent in this dispute between Russia and Ukraine in terms that the Ukraine is trying to forge a national identity to have their independence from Russia and with support from countries in the European Union and NATO they get a little closer to their own sovereignty. With 100,000 Russian troops lining the border of the Ukraine we see the security dilemma come into play with Russia’s actions. The security dilemma that I see from this is Russia having the sense that the Ukraine is trying to break free of Russian sovereignty, so they put troops at the border to flex their muscles causing a panic on the world stage. Ukraine now is left feeling a little less secure, but with the help of NATO the tensions are trying to be eased based on the idea that NATO will support Ukraine if war is to break out. Not only are these examples of balancing of power and a security dilemma, but also an example of Russia being a discursive power because they are trying to keep Ukraine under their sovereignty by controlling what politics the Ukraine participates in, forcing them to back out of the European Union and NATO deals. 

From the article we get a better understanding of what Russian sovereignty intends for Ukraine. With Ukraine showing balancing of power while also having a security dilemma with Russia allows us to know why war might be inevitable. The tensions that have been long lasting between the two countries are based on the idea of sovereignty of a single country. The Russian government does not want to lose Ukraine because they believe it is rightfully part of Russia as it has been dominated by them in the past. With the help of NATO and other countries independent sovereignty for Ukraine is still a possibility despite the balancing of power and security dilemma that has them caught in a long time dispute between Russia. I believe that as the balancing of power for the Ukraine continues to develop tensions will continue to flare up which could lead Ukraine to a security dilemma causing a war to break out between the two states in the near future if there is no bargaining done to ease tension.


Comments

  1. Sam DoudsFebruary 8, 2022 at 10:17 AM

    Nick, I find the end of your piece really compelling in its mention of bargaining as a means of defusing the conflict. In your eyes, who are the "players" (actors maybe more appropriately) in this
    conflict capable of making a bargain. Is it just Russia and Ukraine or does NATO also fit into the equation? Could the US be an independent player as well as the obvious leader of NATO? Finally, what kind of chips is Ukraine working with, what do they have to bargain with aside from the land that they are clinging to?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Logan DeacetisFebruary 9, 2022 at 5:06 PM

    I liked that you and Michael both discussed the Ukraine and Russia conflict. I also enjoyed that you guys took different approaches to the subject. I wonder if Russia will still continue to push this since NATO is backing up Ukraine so heavily. What sort of bargain do you think will need to be reached in order for Russia to back down?

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