Стратегічна панорама (Aug 2023)

ASIAN NEUTRALISM AND THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: HOW TO CHANGE THE BALANCE IN UKRAINE’S FAVOR

  • Ihor Lossovskyi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.53679/2616-9460.2.2022.09
Journal volume & issue
no. 2
pp. 96 – 114

Abstract

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The author analyses the evolution of the modern concept of neutralism in international law, as historically practiced by the countries of the Asian region starting from the middle of the 20th century. The Asian region is viewed as the birthplace of foreign policy ideas about neutrality and non-alignment. The bloc confrontation during the Cold War functioned both the source of and the environment for the formation and consolidation of neutrality and non-alignment. These concepts are associated with Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, who proposed the “geopolitical code” of India, which has its roots in the ancient traditions of the Indo-Buddhist civilization. This notion greatly outlived its creator; however, as after his death, the locus of further promoting neutralism shifted to the countries of Southeast Asia. The main ideological core of the consolidation of this subregion was the idea of ​​Asian neutralism and anti-communism. At the same time, neutralism was channeled against active military and political interference in the affairs of the subregion by external states, primarily the USA, the USSR, and China, as well as attempts by them to involve the SEA countries in their conflicts. Evolving from the key concept of the bloc confrontation of the Cold War to neutrality as an important factor in the confrontation between the USA and the PRC in the East Asian region after the end of the Cold War, on today's stage neutralism manifests itself as an important factor in the military confrontation of Ukraine against the Russian aggressor, and in a more global context, the confrontation between global liberal democracy and authoritarianism or totalitarianism. The political positions of traditionally neutral (in the sense of the mentioned evolving concept) Asian countries, as well as those that openly declare and consistently maintain a neutral status regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, are analyzed in detail. A conclusion is made regarding the possibilities of changing the balance of power and “pulling” certain neutral countries to the side of the pro-Ukrainian coalition of states.

Keywords