by Chick Edmond
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shook the foundations of the current World Order. It exposed how fragile and fragmented international security, global economic structures, and old geopolitical alliances are under severe pressure from state actors in self-help security environment. This analysis looks at how the conflict started in 2014, tracing back the years of tension between Russia and NATO especially around Ukraine’s desire to move closer to the West. The war has made it clear that international rules are only as strong as countries willing to follow them. It also demonstrates that global organizations like the UN often fall short in preventing these wars as Russia ignored widespread international condemnation and the Security Council was unable to act in due time to avert such crisis. The analysis digs into the far-reaching effects of the war - Western sanctions on Russia’s economy but also pushed Russia to find new partners outside the Western sphere thereby making the world more divided. As new alliances are forming, some openly challenged democratic values creating more diverse opinions on the fundamental human right principles. All of these points to serious weaknesses in the security arrangements built after the Cold War, creating more conflicts amongst states. As countries find it difficult to cooperate in a delicate world order, instability and security dilemma often result from such a situation. Using ideas from realist thinkers such as Waltz and Morgenthau advocating power between states as a means of survival, critics of unchecked power like Bull and Mearsheimer often underline the need for cooperation in upholding a peaceful security environment. This study Econ Dev Glob Mark 2 argues that the Ukrainian crisis is a major security test for the global security community, and it continues to divide global community in search for a common solution. Unless there are real changes to fix power imbalances between states and the flaws in international institutions, the current security atmosphere might be heading toward a fractured and chaotic world order. The paper calls for a fresh look at how peace can be maintained in a self-help security environment and opine cooperation as an inclusive policy in a world that’s growing more complex and multipolar.