The current war in Ukraine undoubtedly constitutes a paradigm shift in the realm of international relations. It is not a reversion to any named status quo ante, but an emergence of a new international reality that overlaps with several ones pertaining to multiple epochs, yet maintains distinct elements of its own. It is the first fundamental shake-up of globalization, as we know it. And the world will never be the same henceforth.
The reverberations are so subtle—yet monumental, nevertheless—that they might not cross the threshold of consciousness of the layperson. What the layperson’s conscious mind perceives is the mere price change of consumables (e.g. energy and cereals, etc.). But, that is nothing more than the last and outermost ripple of a series. As the trained mind delves towards the center, the magnitude of change is far more profound.
In a world that has grown ever more interconnected, as well as interdependent; that the threads are knitted so delicately and at a level of complexity that would, supposedly, render their unraveling impossible without destroying the entire piece—a cost that the stakeholders (i.e. states) cannot bear, neither individually nor collectively—; albeit that this might be temporary/short-term measure, the largest country in the world, in terms of land mass (17 million square km), was taken off the grid with few strokes of handful pens.
Aviation routes were redirected; international supply chains were disrupted; and a substantial monetary value was wiped-out in a puff.
Besides logistic, economic, and financial implications, it might be the end of the road for some post-WWII international structures, such as the United Nations Security Council—given the heinous, yet unfortunately imminent, possibility of full-fledged war between its permanent members. Should that eventuality come to pass, the United Nations Security Council would have failed to uphold its teleological mandate, i.e. to preserve the peace (more so, to prevent a world war); hence, its very existence would be questioned; and, consequently, face its inevitable dissolution.
Think it impossible? Right! And so we all thought of such a war in a post-WWII world.
And, what about the future of extraterrestrial human life, once we’ve concluded exterminating every form of life on this planet detonating our infernal contrivances (nuclear weapons)? Is it going to be accessible for selected nationalities? That’s a question worth pondering upon.
Despite all atrocities pertaining to war, this Ukraine war marks the advent of the ‘private individual’ [emphasis added] to the realm of practical global politics—which has been monopolized by states (or, state-representing figures i.e. kings and emperors) and organizations of sorts for centuries.
First he unlocked celestial human potential, and now he unleashed the power of the private individual unto global politics. The phenomenal Elon Musk, in his capacity as a private individual with substantial means at his disposal, decided to weigh into the conflict in Ukraine via providing access to his SpaceX’ Starlink Satellite—which has thus far succeeded in keeping Ukraine online in spite of the country’s woeful circumstances.
As a result, international relations and global politics are no longer exclusive clubs of state/institutional actors. The private individual has his say too.
In a nutshell, the Ukraine war has altered the international order in more ways than we can begin to imagine. In a word, for better or worse, it is the paradigm shift of the 21st century.
[…] In part VI of the “Ukraine Crisis” series, I showcased, though summarily, that the war in Ukraine is the ‘paradigm shift’ of twenty-first century’s international relations and global politics. Notwithstanding, I have also noted that the new paradigm yet retains several features of past eras and the patterns pertaining thereto. Such as middle-powers and client-states aligning with either side of great/super-power conflict. In other theaters across the globe, regional powers are prudently evaluating the current super-powers’ standoff vis-á-vis their own strategic interests; and, are cautiously navigating the raging sea in hope of securing certain considerations from either the West or Russia in return for their alignment with them. The spectrum of this old practice in international politics range from full-fledged alliance to non-alignment. […]