SECURITY DILEMMA UNVEILED- A SCHOLARLY INQUIRY INTO THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI AND UKRAINIAN-RUSSIAN CONFLICTS THROUGH THE PRISM OF OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE REALISM
Abstract
Comparative exploration of the Israeli-Palestinian and Ukrainian-Russian conflicts through the Security Dilemma framework.
Utilizes primary and secondary data for analysis.
Challenges traditional offensive vs defensive realism dichotomy by positing that state behavior is influenced by a mix of both paradigms based on strategic calculations.
Offers fresh insights into political science debates.
1. Introduction
Security Dilemma: pivotal concept for understanding conflict and cooperation in international relations.
Research methodology: comparative case study of Israeli-Palestinian and Russian-Ukrainian conflicts.
Core inquiry: offers theoretical insights into the complexities of states' quests for security and unintended consequences arising from it.
2. Methodology
Approach: Comparative case study methodology focusing on the Security Dilemma, emphasizing the dynamics of offensive and defensive realism.
Primary Sources: Diplomatic documents, speeches, security policies for official perspectives.
Secondary Sources: Academic journals, books, and news reports for historical context.
Key variables: military capabilities, threat perceptions, historical contexts, international involvement.
Thematic coding and qualitative analysis used for data synthesis across both cases to identify recurring themes.
3. Theoretical Framework: Security Dilemma
Definition: A core theory of structural realism (neorealism) that explains state behavior based on the anarchic structure of the international system.
Key Scholars: Kenneth Waltz and others emphasize that states' actions are shaped by their security needs amid uncertainty about others' intentions.
Security Dilemma illustrated by armament races born of misperceptions leading to escalation and potential conflict.
4. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Overview
Recent resurgence in violence (2023) due to Hamas attacks on Israel, with Israeli retaliatory actions leading to high civilian casualties in Gaza.
Population Dynamics: Gaza (high density, controlled by Hamas) vs West Bank (governed by Palestinian Authority).
Historical roots: conflict's evolution through Ottoman, British mandates, and post-WWII geopolitical shifts.
5. Russian-Ukrainian Conflict Overview
Ukraine's history and cultural ties with Russia set the backdrop for prolonged tensions.
Key events: annexation of Crimea and ongoing conflicts in Eastern Ukraine post-2014 mess.
Russia's insecurities about NATO expansion influencing its aggressive posture towards Ukraine.
6. Security Dilemma Analysis in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Mutual hostility and mistrust underpin the security dilemma.
Defensive actions perceived as threats, exacerbated by lack of communication.
Arms build-up leads to escalated tensions, with actions justified defensively or preemptively by both sides.
7. Security Dilemma Analysis in Russian-Ukrainian Conflict
Historical separation from USSR saw initial peace transform into conflict due to government changes and regional aspirations.
Failed communication and mutual distrust amplify tensions, leading to military escalations.
Russia's claims to protect ethnic Russians serve as justifications for its aggressive actions.
8. Comparative Insights and Conclusions
Key distinctions: Recognition of statehood in Ukraine vs. Palestine; religious influences; differing historical grievances; power asymmetries evident in conflict dynamics.
Similarities: Territorial disputes, mutual distrust, perceived aggressive postures fostering security dilemmas common in both conflicts.
Conclusions re-emphasize the inadequacy of rigid categorization in approaching state actions; behaviors informally oscillate between offensive and defensive paradigms.
References
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Studied by 20 people
