Case study: annexation of Crimea

Events

• 27 February 2014 — Crimean Peninsula annexed by unmarked 🇷🇺 troops

• 16 March — election held; said Crimea wanted to be part of 🇷🇺

• 18 March — Crimea offically part of 🇷🇺

Territorial significance of Crimea

• Sevastopol has a deep water port that allows for economic advancement

Reactions of other countries

• Condemmed as illegal in international law

• Violated 🇺🇦 sovereignty

G8 response

• Suspended 🇷🇺 due to annexation

• Introduced first round of sanctions against 🇷🇺

UNGA response

• Rejected annexation and the referendum

• Resolution:

  • Affirmed ‘territorial integrity of 🇺🇦 w/in its internationally recognised borders’

  • Underscored invalidity of referendum

• Called upon states and IGOs to not recognise annexation

2016 — UNGA response

• Reaffirmed non-recognition of annexation

• Condemmed temporary occupation of 🇺🇦 and Crimea by 🇷🇺

Russian Federation’s responses

• Putin:

  • Referendum was legal and allowed Crimeans to self-define

• 2015, Medvedev:

  • Crimea is fully integrated into 🇷🇺

Putin quote

“🇷🇺 found itself in a position it could not retreat from. If you compress the spring all the way to its limit, it will snap back hard.”

Marshall’s perspective

• When faced with what is considered to be an existential threat (aka Crimea), a great power (🇷🇺) will use force

Application to realism — self-interest

• A country will do anything when it feels threatened, wants to further its interests or wants power

  • Sevastopol = power for 🇷🇺

Application to realism — IGOs and IL

• The international community couldn’t do anything

• No country defended Crimea, and it’s now part of 🇷🇺

• 🇷🇺 also didn’t seek international permission before invading

• 🇷🇺 vetoed the UNSC motion condemming its actions

Application to realism — states as main actors

• 🇺🇦 and 🇷🇺 are the main actors in this situation

• International agencies did very little

Application to realism — raison d’Etat and national interest

• 🇷🇺 acted on this

• It protected its state at all costs as saw 🇺🇦 as a threat due to increasing proximity to W.