Approaches to Anarychy through the Ukraine Russia Conflict

Anarchy, according to the discipline of International Relations, is the absence of a superior authority, to the existing nation-states. There are a few perspectives on anarchy that explain the occurrence of political issues in different lights. Namely, liberal, realist and constructivist schools of thought. 

There are several topics and issues around the world causing dangerous conflicts. The one we would be examining is the Ukraine-Russia conflict. One of the most scarring wars yet, since World War II, and it does not require much of an introduction. The general background is that the Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has initiated a series of violent destruction, on the country of Ukraine, under the claims that Ukraine's desire to join the NATO forces was dangerous to Russia. The United Nation's interference in this matter, as per the principles of anarchy, is not necessary, and it is possible for the nation-states in themselves to come to a point of resolution on their own. 

From the Realist approach to Anarchy, it revolves around the concept, that in the absence of a "higher authority", the states would form a self-help pattern and enforce laws by themselves in order to resolve it. This approach was supported by Mearsheimer, Kenneth Waltz and many other experts. Applying this approach to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, we can observe that interference of the West in the matters of Ukraine has only led to the threat of an impending World War, detrimental to the entire International politics as a whole. Ukraine's desire to join the NATO forces were fueled by the interests of the Western nations. The American-led NATO, is not irrational to worry about by the Russians, knowing the consequences of the two former superpowers engaging in cold war. If not for the NATO and its members being world-wide economic and political superpowers, Ukraine's decision to join the NATO may not have been a point of concern for the Russians. Even in a case of a difference of opinion, the nations will have possibly come to an agreement on their own. 

From the Constructivist school of Anarchy, believes that what can be termed as "anarchy" is subjective. The existence of a higher authority, or an "inter-state", in itself is a subjective concept. As said by Alex Wendt "Anarchy is what the state makes of it". What can be construed as "anarchy" to one nation or a group of people, may not be to another, but both parties will only act and react according to their understanding, belief and their self-interests. In the case of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the primary concern is the difference of opinions with regard to the Ukrainian membership in NATO. The reasons for the apprehnsions that Russia holds against the membership, is due to the possible threat of the American and/or Western influence. If the nation, with time, were to perceive the joining of NATO by Ukraine would not be of any threat to the Russian sovereign, then the conflict would subside with time. 

The Liberal approach, is a moderation of the Constructivist and the Realist approaches. It elaborates that anarchy among nations does indeed exist, but liberal institutionalism and democratization among these nations, could strengthen the inter-dependence and thereby, help prevent an anarchic situation. In the example for our explanation, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the nations could engage in an inter-dependent trade or political agreement, which might provide the Russians some amount of stability about Ukraine's membership on the NATO. 

The different approaches to the concept of anarchy, provides varying grounds of problems as well as methods of resolution for the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which is gradually turning into a full fledged war. Viewing the conflict at hand, from these perspectives, might bring an understanding and possibly a solution to an unsolicited war, that could affect the entire world.