Season 4, Episode 3: Prof. Glenn Diesen, The Ukraine War and the Eurasian World Order
Jan 7, 2025
auto_awesome
Glenn Diesen, a political scientist and professor at the University of Southeastern Norway, dives into the complexities surrounding the Ukraine war and its implications for the Eurasian world order. He discusses Europe's fractured security and the dire consequences of NATO-Russia tensions. The conversation weaves through historical frameworks, the legacy of the Cold War, and the evolving geopolitical alliances, particularly between China and Russia. Diesen emphasizes the urgent need to navigate these tensions to avoid catastrophic outcomes.
The Ukraine War exemplifies Europe's fractured security framework, leading to conflict without a feasible resolution in sight.
The rise of a new Eurasian order, driven by collaboration between China and Russia, challenges U.S. influence in global governance.
Historical shifts, from the Westphalian order to current geopolitical tensions, demonstrate how power dynamics shape international relations and conflicts.
Deep dives
Understanding World Order
The concept of world order is defined primarily by the distribution of power and the legitimacy of rules governing that power. It denotes a system where sovereign states coexist, originally influenced by the Peace of Westphalia, which established a framework for international relations based on mutual recognition and balance of power. This historical context is crucial for understanding contemporary conflicts, as any quest for hegemony disrupts this intricate balance. The notion of world order has faced significant challenges, particularly after the disruptions that occurred post-Cold War, highlighting ongoing conflicts like the Ukraine war.
The Evolution of European Orders
The historical narrative details the transition from the Westphalian order, which aimed for sovereign equality among European states, to later arrangements like the Congress of Vienna. The Congress sought to maintain a balance of power following the Napoleonic Wars by including previously defeated states, highlighting the importance of cooperation over division. However, this balance was ultimately upended by the rise of Germany and evolving alliances leading up to World War I, indicating how shifting power dynamics can result in significant geopolitical conflicts. The interwar period further entrenched this instability, as punitive measures against Germany contributed to the groundwork for World War II.
The Cold War's Legacy
Following World War II, a new world order emerged, characterized by bipolarity and the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. This era saw the establishment of institutions like the United Nations, aimed at maintaining a balance of power but also laying the groundwork for ideological conflicts. Despite the common goal of opposing fascism during WWII, tensions resurfaced quickly between the Allies, leading to an environment fostering proxy conflicts. The ramifications of these tensions are evident today, as the ideological divide and militarization established during the Cold War continue to influence current geopolitical dynamics.
U.S. Hegemony and NATO Expansion
Post-Cold War, the United States sought to establish a unipolar world order, driven by ambitions of global hegemony and prompted by the rapid expansion of NATO. This expansion disregarded previous agreements for a common European security framework, resisting attempts for cooperation with Russia, which contributed to rising hostilities. The drive for dominance prompted an increase in military alliances that further entrenched divisions in Europe, creating an adversarial climate rather than mutual understanding. This shift illustrates how missteps in post-Cold War foreign policy led to conflicts that are currently manifesting in events such as the Ukraine war.
Toward a New Eurasian Order
In response to Western dominance, a new Eurasian order is emerging, characterized by collaboration between China and Russia aimed at fostering economic and political systems independent of U.S. influence. These initiatives reflect a departure from the traditional conception of hegemony, focusing on multilateral cooperation rather than division. As both nations seek to establish alternative structures for trade and diplomacy, their approach represents a shift toward accommodating diverse civilizations rather than enforcing a singular ideological framework. This evolving landscape signals a reconfiguration of global power dynamics that could reshape international relations in the coming years.
Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and political scientist Glenn Diesen as they discuss Professor Diesen’s new book, The Ukraine War & the Eurasian World Order. Professor Diesen explains Europe’s fractured security framework which he believes has steered the continent toward conflict with no clear way to reverse course. The conversation focuses on Ukraine - a nation itself divided within a divided Europe, and a pivotal piece in the deadly geopolitical chess game between NATO and Russia.
Together, they dissect the high-stakes battle between NATO and Russia, where compromise has so far been impossible, and yet where the potential consequences of escalation are catastrophic, up to nuclear war. Join in as they unpack the dynamics of a rapidly changing world order and what these changes portend for the future of war and peace, geopolitics, and global governance.
The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.