Ukraine and the Academy — One War, Many Theories

• Published in: China quarterly of international strategic studies 2024-11, p.1-28
• Main Authors: Platias, Athanasios, Trigkas, Vasilis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2377-7400; 2377-7419
• DOI: 10.1142/S2377740024500052

Leading theorists of major schools of thought in international relations disagree over the root causes of the ongoing war in Ukraine. This paper examines the merits and bases of the theories or explanations provided by each major IR school. It explores the dominant arguments concerning the nature and trajectory of the ongoing war, the prospects for its resolution, and its strategic effects on the international system with a particular emphasis on China. We argue that scholars’ views on these topics are significantly influenced by their theoretical orientations within international relations. Furthermore, strategic thinkers and policymakers, identified as homines theoretici or feminae theoreticae, are themselves deeply influenced by their theoretical understandings of the world, which in turn shape their normative engagement with world affairs. However, the interplay between theoretical perspectives and practical realities hinges on the dynamics of power and objective material conditions on the ground.