A Comparative Analysis of the Ukraine Crisis Through the Prisms of Offensive Realism and Liberal Internationalism

Abstract

In this article, the Ukraine crisis will be analyzed through the prisms of two different International Relations (IR) theories, namely Offensive Realism and Liberal Internationalism. While presenting relevant theoretical discussions, this work will specifically focus on two IR experts, John J. Mearsheimer and John G. Ikenberry, whose names have been associated with these theories. By drawing on the works of Mearsheimer and Ikenberry’s for Offensive Realism and Liberal Internationalism respectively, this work will try to make sense of the developments surrounding the Ukraine crisis, while also exploring the explanatory capacities of these two theories through a comparative approach. The insights offered by these theories in explaining
Russia’s actions and Ukraine’s motivation during the crisis will be put to test. In addition, with a focus on the West, this work also aims to offer perspectives through the prisms of these theories on ways to end the Ukraine crisis. 

Keywords

• Ukraine Crisis
• Offensive Realism
• Liberal Internationalism
• Russia
• Ukraine

Saldırgan Realizm ve Liberal Enternasyonalizm’in Merceğinden Ukrayna Krizinin Karşılaştırmalı Bir Analizi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada iki farklı Uluslararası İlişkiler teorisinden yararlanılarak Ukrayna krizinin bir analizi gerçekleştirilmektedir. Bu teoriler Saldırgan Realist ve Liberal Enternasyonalist teorilerdir. İsimleri bu teorilerle özdeşleşmiş olan John J. Mearsheimer ve John G.Ikenberry’nin literatürüne odaklanılarak, gerekli teorik tartışmalar geliştirilmektedir. Saldırgan Realist teori için Mearsheimer, Liberal Enternasyonalist teori için ise Ikenberry’nin çalışmaları bu makalede mercek altına alınmaktadır. Bu teorilere dair birer perspektif sunularak, Ukrayna krizinde öne çıkan hadiselerin bir değerlendirilmesi yapılmaktadır. Karşılaştırmalı bir perspektiften, bu teorilerin Ukrayna krizi sırasında yaşanan gelişmelerin anlamlandırılmasında izah kapasiteleri de masaya yatırılmaktadır. Bu yapılırken, kriz sırasında Rusya’nın eylemlerini, Ukrayna’nın ise motivasyonunu anlama ve açıklama noktasında bu teorilerin sunduğu bakış açıları incelenmektir. Ayrıca, Batı odak noktasına alınarak, krize çözüm üretme noktasında bu iki teorinin nasıl bir perspektif sunduğu da ele alınmaktadır. 

Keywords

• Ukrayna Krizi
• Saldırgan Realizm
• Liberal Enternasyonalizm
• Rusya
• Ukrayna

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