DOI: 10.46340/eppd.2024.11.4.1
Maksym Khylko, PhD in Philosophy
Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
Olena Khylko, PhD in Political Science
Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
How to cite: Khylko, M., & Khylko, О. (2024). Navigating Global South’s Ambivalent Stance on Russia-Ukraine War. Evropský politický a právní diskurz, 11, 4, 5-15. https://doi.org/10.46340/eppd.2024.11.4.1
Abstract
The study reveals the complexity of the Global South’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war within a broader context of a changing world order. Through the lens of neorealism and constructivism, we explore how the positions of the Global South countries are influenced by their vision of own national interests, divergent perceptions of the causes and possible consequences of the war, and of the roles of the parties involved with regard to the prospects of reshaping the global system of international relations.
We trace the increasing attention to the Global South in the West and the evolution of its perception from the concept of an economically disadvantaged Third World to an important geopolitical player. We discuss why the postcolonial perspective of war that has gained traction in Ukraine is perceived differently in the Global South due to their own historical experience, the role of the West, and Russian propaganda. We also analyse why the Western framing of the Russia-Ukraine war in the context of preserving the existing world order and as a battle between democracy and autocracy has limited appeal for the Global South.
We discuss how pragmatic indifference and strategic opportunism are preventing countries in the Global South from taking a more active stance on the war, and how their governments are seeking to mitigate or compensate for the negative effects of the war. We analyse how China’s perception of the war is influenced by competition with the U.S. and aspirations to build a multipolar world devoid of Western hegemony, and how Beijing’s pro-Russian neutrality affects the position of the Global South.
The article reveals how Ukraine, faced with the challenge of gaining political support from the Global South, while being critically dependent on military and financial assistance from the Global North, has achieved certain progress in this regard, but still seeks a more active engagement of the Global South as a potential balancing force in world order.
Keywords: Global South, Russia-Ukraine war, Third World, Non-Aligned Movement, postcolonialism, world order.
References
Bachulska, A. & Leonard, M. (2023). China and Ukraine: The Chinese Debate about Russia’s War and its Meaning for the World. European Council on Foreign Relations.
https://ecfr.eu/publication/china-and-ukraine-the-chinese-debate-about-russias-war-and-its-meaning-for-the-world
Ballestrin, L. (2020). The Global South as a Political Project. E-International Relations.
https://www.e-ir.info/2020/07/03/the-global-south-as-a-political-project
Besheer, M. (2022). UN General Assembly Rejects Russia’s ‘Referendums’, ‘Annexation’ in Ukraine. Voice of America. https://www.voanews.com/a/un-general-assembly-rejects-russia-s-referenda-annexation-in-ukraine-/6787420.html
Biden, J. (2022). Remarks by President Biden on the United Efforts of the Free World to Support the People of Ukraine. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/03/26/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-united-efforts-of-the-free-world-to-support-the-people-of-ukraine
Blinken, A. J. (2022). Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Foreign Ministers Dinner. U.S. Department of State. https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-at-the-u-s-africa-leaders-summit-foreign-ministers-dinner
Bondarenko, S., Nagornyak, T., & Polovyi, M. (2020). Institutional Mechanisms to Ensure National Security in the Information Space of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation. Przeglad Strategiczny [Strategic Review], 13, 265-279. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/ps.2020.1.16
Brandt, W. (1989). North-South: A Programme for Survival; Report of the Independent Commission on International Development Issues. Cambridge, MA: MIT.
Brosig, M., & Verma, R. (2024). The War in Ukraine, the Global South and the Evolving Global Order. Global Policy. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13366
Burlyuk, O., & Musliu, V. (2023). The Responsibility to Remain Silent? On the Politics of Knowledge Production, Expertise and (Self-)Reflection in Russia’s War against Ukraine. Journal of International Relations and Development, 26, 605-618. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41268-023-00318-x
Chernetsky, V. (2003). Postcolonialism, Russia and Ukraine. Ulbandus Review, 7, 32-62. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25748122
Dąbrowska, E. (2023). The Major Powers of the Global South and the War Against Ukraine. ZOiS Spotlight. https://www.zois-berlin.de/en/publications/zois-spotlight/the-major-powers-of-the-global-south-and-the-war-against-ukraine
Dreyer, J. (2023). The World China Is Building. Noema Magazine.
https://www.noemamag.com/the-world-china-is-building
Düben, B.A., & Wang-Kaeding, H. (2023). Don’t Let a Good Crisis go to Waste: China’s Response
to the Russia–Ukraine War. International Politics. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-023-00502-3
Düben, B.A. (2024). China’s Reaction to the Russia–Ukraine War: A Test Case for a Global ‘Pax Sinica’? Global Policy. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13359
Durdiyeva, S. (2023). ‘Not in Our Name’: Why Russia is Not a Decolonial Ally or the Dark Side of Civilizational Communism and Imperialism. The SAIS Review of International Affairs.
https://saisreview.sais.jhu.edu/not-in-our-name-why-russia-is-not-a-decolonial-ally-or-the-dark-side-of-civilizational-communism-and-imperialism
Google Books Ngram Viewer (2024). Global South. https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content= Global+South&year_start=2000&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3
Farah, D., & Ortiz, R. D. (2023). Russian Influence Campaigns in Latin America. Special Report. United States Institute of Peace. https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/10/russian-influence-campaigns-latin-america
FDFA (2024). List of Countries who Support the Joint Communiqué. https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/fdfa/fdfa/aktuell/dossiers/konferenz-zum-frieden-ukraine/Summit-on-Peace-in-ukraine-joint-communique-on-a-peace-framework.html
Forsberg, T., & Patomäki, H. (2023). Looking at the War in Ukraine and Ways it could End from a Global Perspective. Globalizations, 20(7), 1180-1186. https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2023.2231216
Freitas de, M. V. (2023). The Impact of Chinese Investments in Africa: Neocolonialism or Cooperation? Policy Center For The New South. https://www.policycenter.ma/publications/impact-chinese-investments-africa-neocolonialism-or-cooperation
Grovogui, S. (2011). A Revolution Nonetheless: The Global South in International Relations. The Global South, 5(1), 175-190. https://doi.org/10.2979/globalsouth.5.1.175
Guyer, J. (2022). Why Some Countries Don’t Want to Pick a Side in Russia’s War in Ukraine. Vox. https://www.vox.com/23156512/russia-ukraine-war-global-south-nonaligned-movement
Han, Z. (2024). China, Brazil Propose Road Map for Solving Ukraine Crisis. Global Times. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202405/1312986.shtml
Hendl, T., Burlyuk, O., O’Sullivan, M., & Arystanbek, A. (2023). (En)Countering Epistemic Imperialism: A Critique of “Westsplaining” and Coloniality in Dominant Debates on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine. Contemporary Security Policy, 45(2), 171-209. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2023.2288468
Ikenberry, G. J. (2024). Three Worlds: the West, East and South and the Competition to Shape Global Order. International Affairs, 100(1), 121-138. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiad284
ISSAfrica. (2023). Russia-Africa Summit: What Was in it for Africa?
https://issafrica.org/pscreport/psc-insights/russia-africa-summit-what-was-in-it-for-africa
Karadjis, M. (2023). The Global South’s Views on Ukraine Are More Complex Than You May Think.
New Lines Magazine. https://newlinesmag.com/argument/the-global-souths-views-on-ukraine-are-more-complex-than-you-may-think
Kipiani, V. (2023). More Realism, Less Hypocrisy: Cooperation by Action, Not Posturing by Words.
Evropský Politický a Právní Diskurz, 10(2), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.46340/eppd.2023.10.2.1
Klingebiel, S. (2023) Geopolitics, the Global South and Development Policy. IDOS Policy Brief 14/2023.
German Institute of Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.23661/ipb14.2023
Klyszcz, I. (2023). It is not About ‘Neutrality’: How the Global South Responds to Russia’s Invasion.
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. https://www.boell.de/en/2023/01/30/it-not-about-neutrality-how-global-south-responds-russias-invasion
Kozyrev, V. (2023). China’s Pro-Russian Neutrality Position in the Ukraine Crisis as Part of Its “Hybrid” Confrontation with the West. East Asian Policy, 15(2), 77-88. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793930523000132
Krause, F. (2024). Explaining Brazil’s Stance on the Ukraine War. Bulletin of Latin American Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/blar.13575
Kronstadt K.A. (2022). India-Russia Relations and Implications for U.S. Interests. CRS Report R47221. Congressional Research Service. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47221/3
Kugler, J., & Organski, A. (2011). The Power Transition: A Retrospective and Prospective Evaluation. In: Midlarsky, M. (ed.) Handbook of War Studies. Routledge, 171-194.
Kurylo, B. (2023). The Ukrainian Subject, Hierarchies of Knowledge Production and the Everyday: an Autoethnographic Narrative. Journal of International Relations and Development, 26, 685-697. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41268-023-00310-5
Leoni, Z., & Strina, V. (2024). China: New Hegemonic Power After the War in Ukraine? Revista de Estudios en Seguridad Internacional, 10(1), 69-88. http://dx.doi.org.10.18847/1.19.5
Mahler, A. G. (2017). Global South. Oxford Bibliographies in Literary and Critical Theory. https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780190221911-0055
Mälksoo, L. (2023). Resolution ES-11/4 Territorial Integrity of Ukraine: Defending the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations (U.N.G.A.). International Legal Materials, 62(4), 601-604. https://doi.org/10.1017/ilm.2023.9
Mälksoo, M. (2022). The Postcolonial Moment in Russia’s War Against Ukraine. Journal of Genocide Research, 25(3-4), 471-481. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2022.2074947
Mälksoo, M. (2023). The Postcolonial Moment in Russia’s War Against Ukraine. Journal of Genocide Research, 25(3-4), 471-481. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2022.2074947
MFA of China (2023). China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/2649_665393/202302/t20230224_11030713.html
MFA of China (2024). Common Understandings Between China and Brazil on Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx_662805/202405/t20240523_11310698.html
MFA of Ukraine (2024). Grain From Ukraine. https://mfa.gov.ua/en/grain-ukraine
Morozov, V. (2015). Russia’s Postcolonial Identity: A Subaltern Empire in a Eurocentric World. London:
Palgrave Macmillan.
Moses, O., Hwang, J., Engel, L., & Bien-Aimé, V.Y. (2023). A New State of Lending: Chinese Loans to Africa. Boston University Global Development Policy Center. https://www.bu.edu/gdp/files/2023/08/GCI_PB_019_CLA-2023-FIN.pdf
Naumkina, S., Kokoriev, O., & Yatvetska, H. (2024). Transitional Justice as an Efficient Mechanism for Overcoming the Consequences of Armed Conflicts: World Experience. Evropský Politický a Právní Diskurz [European Political and Legal Discourse], 11(3), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.46340/eppd.2024.11.3.2
Öniş, Z. (2022). The West Versus the Rest: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the Crisis of the “Post-Western” Order. Transatlantic Policy Quarterly, 21(4), 33-52. https://doi.org/10.58867/LWFJ8049
Organski, A. (1958). The Stages of Political Development. World Politics, 10(2), 166-192.
O’Sullivan, M., & Krulišová, K. (2023). Central European Subalterns Speak Security (Too): Towards a Truly
Post-Western Feminist Security Studies. Journal of International Relations and Development, 26, 660-674. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41268-023-00302-5
OSN (2022). Putin sravnil nyneshnjuju jepohu so vremenami Petra I [Putin Compared the Current Era to the Times of Peter the Great]. https://www.osnmedia.ru/politika/putin-sravnil-nyneshnyuyu-epohu-so-vremenami-petra-i/ [in Russian].
Prashad, V. (2012). The Poorer Nations: A Possible History of the Global South. London: Verso.
Sagild, R. A., & Hsiung, C. W. (2024). Chinese Re-Examinations of Russia? The Strategic Partnership in the Wake of Russia’s War Against Ukraine. Journal of Contemporary China. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2024.2358876
Šćepanović, J. (2024). Subversive Narratives and status-Seeking: A Look at Russia’s Outreach to the Developing World After the Ukraine War. International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207020241257630
Sebastian, L. C., & Priamarizki, A. (2024). Indonesia’s Russia-Ukraine War Stance and the Global South: Between Solidarity and Transactionalism. Global Policy. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13380
Shekhovtsov, A. (2022). Russia’s Strategic and Tactical Narratives in its War against Ukraine. Youtube. Centre for Democratic Integrity. CDI Dispatch, 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca4nOo9f4m4
Schirm, S. A. (2023). Alternative World Orders? Russia’s Ukraine War and the Domestic Politics of the BRICS. The International Spectator, 58(3), 55-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2023.2236937
Scopus (2024a). Title “Global South”, 2000-2023. https://www.scopus.com/results/results.uri?sort=plf-f&src= s&st1=%22Global+South%22&sid=197f440d086b93a69f79d5c3663d95ed&sot=b&sdt=cl&sl=29&s=
TITLE%28%22Global+South%22%29&origin=resultslist&editSaveSearch=&yearFrom=2000&yearTo=2023
Scopus. (2024b). Title “Third World”, 2000-2023. https://www.scopus.com/results/results.uri?sort=plf-f&src= s&st1=%22Third+World%22&sid=b5704b85d111ed4bfa7f655d37d0f875&sot=b&sdt=b&sl=20&s=
TITLE%28%22Third+World%22%29&origin=searchbasic&editSaveSearch=&yearFrom=2000&yearTo=2023
Snyder, T. (2022). The War in Ukraine is a Colonial War. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/the-war-in-ukraine-is-a-colonial-war
Tsang, S. (2023). Getting China Right. Survival, 65(4), 43-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/00396338.2023.2239057
Tytarchuk, O., & Khylko, M. (2016). NATO, the EU and the OSCE in the Handling of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Competitive Synergy or “Freezing” Crisis Management? In: Goda, S., Tytarchuk, O., & Khylko M. (eds.). International Crisis Management: NATO, EU, OSCE and Civil Society, 87-100. Amsterdam: IOS Press. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-641-5-87
Verma, R. (2024). Russia–Ukraine War and India’s Quest for Leading Power Status. Global Policy. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13365
Véron, N. (2023). Much of the Global South is on Ukraine’s side. Bruegel. https://www.bruegel.org/first-glance/ much-global-south-ukraines-side
Web of Science. (2024a). Title “Global South”, 2000-2023. https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/summary/ f289703d-084a-4e76-a228-9a2facf35808-f9cc8e8e/relevance/1
Web of Science. (2024b). Title “Third World”, 2000-2023. https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/summary/ 2d37fd2c-789a-42ae-a650-bfe531a2d479-f9cd0497/relevance/1
Worsley, P. (1964). The Third World: A Vital New Force in International Affairs. Chicago: University
of Chicago Press.
Zelenskyy, V. (2022a). Russia’s War Against Ukraine Affects Global Situation – Address by the President of Ukraine to the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI). President of Ukraine. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/rozvyazana-rosiyeyu-vijna-proti-ukrayini-vplivaye-na-globaln-75401
Zelenskyy, V. (2022b). Ukraine has Always been a Leader in Peacemaking Efforts; if Russia Wants to End this War, Let it Prove it with Actions – Speech by the President of Ukraine at the G20 Summit. President of Ukraine. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/ukrayina-zavzhdi-bula-liderom-mirotvorchih-zusil-yaksho-rosi-79141
Zelenskyy, V. (2022c). You Can’t Be Neutral About the War that Russia is Waging Against Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy During a Conversation with Representatives of the African Media. President of Ukraine. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/ne-mozhna-buti-nejtralnim-do-vijni-yaku-vede-rosiya-proti-uk-76877
Zelenskyy, V. (2023). Peace Must Become Irreplaceable, that is why Evil Must Lose – Speech by the President of Ukraine at the General Congress of the United Mexican States. President of Ukraine. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/mir-maye-stati-bezalternativnim-same-tomu-zlo-maye-prograti-82401
Zelenskyy, V. (2024). Today is the Day When the World Begins to Bring Just Peace Closer – Speech by the President of Ukraine at the First Plenary Session of the Global Peace Summit. President of Ukraine. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/sogodni-den-koli-svit-pochinaye-nablizhati-spravedlivij-mir-91561
Zhen, W. (2023). It’s US that Wants Ukraine Crisis to Last. China Daily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202302/24/WS63f8339ea31057c47ebb0b26.html
