The Effect of the Russian-Ukrainian War on the Structure of the International System

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to examine the Russian-Ukrainian war and its regional and international repercussions. It also highlights the most important international positions on the Russian-Ukrainian war and underlines the effect of the conflict on the nature and limits of structural change in the international system.

Methods: To achieve its objectives, the study employs three distinct methodologies: the historical approach, the descriptive analytical approach, and the decision-making strategy.

Results: The study’s findings show that the Russian-Ukrainian war brought about fundamental changes in the international security environment. In response to non-traditional security threats and in pursuit of comprehensive security measures, it reasserted the prominence of traditional military warfare and military security concerns. Moreover, the Russian-Ukrainian war underscored the limitations of the UN Security Council in preventing conflicts and wars between superpowers, particularly its permanent members. The study also shows how the Russian-Ukrainian war indicated the possibility and likelihood of using weapons of mass destruction, especially when the survival of a nuclear-armed state is at stake, thus bringing back concerns about nuclear conflicts.

Conclusions: The study concludes that the war’s effect on the structure of the international system primarily depends on its outcomes, which could result in a dramatic shift from the current international system toward either a multilateral international system or a more hegemonic and unilateral Western system led by the United States of America.