Abstract Book of the 8th World Conference on Social Sciences
Year: 2025
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The Role of the West in the Russia-Ukraine War: An Analysis of Contributing Factors and Responsibility
Tamanna Nambiar
ABSTRACT:
This research paper critically examines the complex factors leading to the Russia-Ukraine war, with a specific focus on evaluating the role of Western actions and policies. The central question addressed is whether the West bears primary responsibility for escalating tensions or if accountability should be more evenly distributed among the involved parties. Key issues analyzed include NATO’s eastward expansion, Western support for pro-democracy movements in Ukraine, stagnation of arms control negotiations, and the imposition of economic sanctions on Russia.The paper investigates NATO’s expansion into Eastern Europe, which Russia perceived as a direct threat to its security and sphere of influence, interpreting Western actions as aggressive rather than defensive. It also explores Western involvement in the 2014 Euromaidan protests that led to the ousting of apro-Russian government, straining relations and contributing to the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Additionally, the stagnation of arms control agreements and the breakdown of diplomatic negotiations are assessed for their role in increasing the likelihood of military conflict, while the impact of Western economic sanctions is analyzed in terms of their effectiveness and unintended consequences in heightening hostilities.By situating these factors within a broader historical and political context, this paper evaluates whether Western actions served as provocations or necessary responses to Russian aggression. Ultimately, it aims to contribute to the discourse on international relations and conflict resolution by offering a comprehensive and balanced analysis of the causes of the Russia-Ukraine war. The findings aim to inform future strategies for conflict prevention and highlight the unintended consequences of foreign policy decisions in an interconnected global landscape.
Keywords: Russia-Ukraine war, NATO expansion, Euromaidan protests, Western policies, economic sanctions, arms control, international relations, conflict resolution, foreign policy, geopolitical tensions.