The end of the Pax Europaea : IR theory and narratives on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine

Abstract

Russia’s full-fledged military attack on Ukraine has completely reshaped the European security scene. An event of such magnitude invariably calls for discussions on blame and has intensified and mainstreamed a debate on the West’s potential principal responsibility for this latest escalation on Putin’s part. This work tackles this proposition, evaluating whether the theory on which it stands holds ground when critically scrutinised and confronted with facts and other relevant factors and alternative explanations. This work also seeks to inquire into the interplay between theory, that is, scholarly work, policymaking, and public opinion, considering its effects in the real world. Its analysis is based on the deductive methodological approach of process tracing.