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Russia's war in Ukraine: What does it mean for international order and the UN system
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Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022 is a clear violation of the United Nations (UN) Charter. Moreover, following reports about human rights violations committed by Russian forces in Bucha, Russia’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council was suspended. Moscow appears to be increasingly isolated within the organization. And yet, Kremlin officials continue to highlight the central role of the UN for managing matters of international peace and security. References to the importance of the world body are found in nearly every Russian strategy document and official foreign policy statement.
How can one explain this? What drives Russia’s policy towards the UN system and international order more generally? And what does it imply for the West? The seminar features two renowned experts to discuss these questions, and to provide some background on Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Professor MacFarlane takes a brief look at Russia’s war in Ukraine and then discuss its implications for the UN and for international order. Professor Knudsen examines if and how Russian behavior in the UN Security Council might be driven by deep revisionism and a quest for status.
Speakers
Neil MacFarlane is Lester B. Pearson Professor of International Relations (emeritus) at St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford. His research interests include Russian foreign policy, the international politics of the post-Soviet space, and conflicts in the South Caucasus.
Tonny Brems Knudsen is Associate Professor of International Relations at the Department of Political Science, Aarhus University. His research interests include the UN and the use of force, great-power relations and the changing world order. His most recent book is Power Transition in the Anarchical Society: Rising Powers, Institutional Change and the New World Order (with Cornelia Navari, Palgrave, 2022).
Maria-Louise Clausen, Senior Researcher at Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS).
Jonas Gejl Kaas, Assistant Professor at Aarhus University.
Elias Götz, Associate Professor at Royal Danish Defense College.
Programme
14.00-14.15 Welcome & introduction, Maria-Louise Clausen & Elias Götz
14.15-14.35 Russia's war in Ukraine and international order, Neil MacFarlane
14.35-14.55 Russia and the UN Security Council after the invasion of Ukraine: Spoiler or status seeker?, Tonny Brems Knudsen
14.55-15.10 Coffee break
15.10-16.00 Q&A, moderated by Jonas Gejl Kaas & Elias Götz
The seminar was held and recorded on Wednesday 7 December 2022, 14.00-16.00 at DIIS Auditorium.
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