Politics Unit 3 AOS2- Causes of conflict

Question 1

Causes of Russia/Ukraine conflict

Answer 1

• Russian diaspora & nationalism
• alliances/threat of NATO expansion
• economic interdependance

Question 2

Russian diaspora & nationalism explanation

Answer 2

Since there are Russians who migrated to other states like Ukraine but still have a nationalist perspective towards Russia, the state sees its interest in national security as the need to protect these citizens beyond Russia’s borders. Putin uses this belief to justify his invasion of Ukraine as he says he is only doing so to protect his out of state citizens showing how the diaspora of ethnic Russians along with Russia’s nationalist perspective are a cause.

Question 3

Alliances/threat of NATO expansion

Answer 3

NATO’s expansion is an existential threat to Russia as war with one country in NATO means war with all of them. Therefore Ukraine’s interest in joining NATO is an impact to Russia’s security as they would no longer maintain the power over Ukraine and if they invaded Ukraine after their alliance with NATO, they would not be able to maintain this power without their security being threatened.

Question 4

Economic interdependance

Answer 4

Russia needs Ukrainian trade and needs Ukraine to want Russian trade as this economic gain facilitates Russia’s ability of success on a global scale. Therefore, if Ukraine starts depending on other states such as China for trade, this hinders Russia’s interest in their economic prosperity proving how this economic interdependence is a driving factor of the armed conflict.

Question 5

Russian diaspora & nationalism background

Answer 5

• prior to 2014 Crimea was only self-governing region in Ukraine
• 250,000 Russians have moved into Crimea since 2015
• presence of ethnically russian pop in Luhansk & Donestk was key explanation for “special military operation”
• Putin justified invasion as a way of protecting out-of-state russian people

Question 6

Alliances/threat of NATO expansion background

Answer 6

• Russia feels as though NATO is an existential threat
• Russia’s interests involve keeping a buffer between their borders & NATO
• in the lead up to conflict Ukraine was in early stages of joining NATO & EU
• this forming alliance contributed to conflict as Russia believes Ukraine joining NATO is direct threat to their security
• this belief led to action of blocking Ukraine’s entry to NATO through conflict

Question 7

Economic interdependance background

Answer 7

• Russia needs Ukrainian trade and needs Ukraine to want Russian trade
• Ukrainian shift towards EU and China threatens Russia’s economic prosperity
• this interdependency is seen through agricultural production, marine trade & gas pipes