DefinePK

Abstract

The Russo-Ukraine War in 2022, despite historical evidence of enduring tensionsbetween the two nations, came as a surprise for the world, challenging the U.S.-ledglobal political order. Understanding the drivers of conflict and shifting balance ofpower, especially in Eurasia, is critical for academic discourse in international relationsand assessing future geopolitical trends. The paper investigates the Russo-Ukraine Warusing a neorealist lens as a theoretical framework, adopting qualitative researchmethodology with a thematic analysis technique. For focused research, besidesinvestigating the broader historical linkages of the conflict, the time horizon isdelimited from 2014-23. The research questions focus on the genesis of the conflict byexploring key drivers, intersecting interests of the global powers and how the War isimpacting the geopolitical landscape of Eurasia in particular and global political orderin general. The study addresses the research gaps in exploring different scenarios asthe end state of the conflict and their implications for the global powers and worldorder. Findings from detailed discussion reveal that the Russo-Ukraine War is not just aterritorial dispute between the two nations but has broader geostrategic implicationsfor the region and beyond. The conflict has the potential to reshape the alliances andexacerbate the global powers' competition, redefining the context and complexion ofthe emerging world order.