"Looking at the current situation in Ukraine, there is no room for myself and other young people from the Middle East to think positively anymore about the Russian state and regime", writes Noman Ahmad in this op-ed. "As a young man from the Middle East, and much as I dislike foreign interventionism, I do not want the Ukrainians to suffer from what many people in the Middle East faced for the past twenty some years, and I also hope that people in the region stop admiring Russia unjustifiably."
Whilst the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 came as a surprise for those like myself who still believe in multilateralism and diplomacy, it was probably less so for the many Ukrainians who currently have to face consequences at home and abroad. Coming from the Middle and Near East, I never thought there would be such an intense fight right at the heart of Europe, a place I had always perceived as a beacon of stability and order. The Russian invasion will now make us question the very idea of realpolitik and what it should permit.
From the very first few days of the war, it was clear that this was not a proportionate response against the perceived threat from NATO. Russia attacked mercilessly affecting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands, displacing millions and killing thousands, while causing trauma and uncertainty for all Ukrainians. The scale of destruction in the first week alone is something that brings back memories of Iraq, Yemen and Syria where several foreign and domestic actors battled for dominance with total disregard for sovereignty, and with the presence of various levels of competing interests. Whatever the reasons for the Russian invasion, there can be no justification for the manner in which Putin attacked. The least this does for an average person is to question the very notion of realpolitik and how far should it go in allowing the use of force by states in the exercise of international relations and the pursuit of their interests.
That being said, European countries have made their position clearly and firmly, and I could not be happier seeing European states thus united. The unity, not just among the EU states but also among the European people themselves, is extraordinary and timely. Whilst there is still debate among various political forces in Europe on how best to address the invasion, all the main European political factions have made their point clearly and condemned the Russian invasion. The European Union, as an institution, will definitely come out of this crisis stronger and more united. It will also allow the Union to rethink itself and decide whether it wants to stay as primarily an economic bloc or assume a more geopolitical role . However, it is also important for dialogue to be restored soon, and for security arrangements across the continent involving Ukrainians and Russians on one hand, and between NATO and Russia on the other hand.
Looking at the response from across the Middle East and the Arab world, the abstention of several countries at the United Nations in the vote to condemn Russia came as no surprise for those observing Middle Eastern Politics. Several Arab states are itching to reduce their reliance on the US and instead focus on developing a strategic relationship with Russia. Others simply do not subscribe to a certain side but have considerable interests to maintain good relations with both the so-called west and Russia. It is shameful and it does not represent the views of many Middle Easterners who dislike war and interventions. Russia has not been a positive player in many Arab countries. They have prolonged the conflict in Syria, contributed to division in Libya and could not offer any tangible support for peace in Yemen.
Speaking about myself, I grew up in atmosphere that admired Russia and remembered positively the defunct Soviet Union as the west waged bloody campaigns across the Middle East. Looking at the current situation in Ukraine, there is no room for myself and other young people from the Middle East to think positively anymore about the Russian state and regime. As a young man from the Middle East, and much as I dislike foreign interventionism, I do not want the Ukrainians to suffer from what many people in the Middle East faced for the past twenty some years, and I also hope that people in the region stop admiring Russia unjustifiably.
The Russian invasion will be a life changing moment for all of us. While I cannot speak for Ukrainians, I can notice that the average European is now definitely rethinking about future security, and their role as a European citizen. Europeans now will be more active on legal and humanitarian grounds. They will understand how rogue Russia can be and thus become more civically engaged to prepare for future confrontations or escalations. For other Middle Easterners, I hope this is a lesson that aggression is not always coming from the west, but any actor can be an aggressor. It also means that no state, no matter how developed, is safe from threats from rogue regimes. I hope the spirit of European solidarity we are currently witnessing in Europe can be replicated across the Middle East, and I hope dialogue always stays on table in the Middle East.
Many are asking if the Russian invasion of Ukraine marks the end of a unipolar world. As I was born and raised in third world countries, the end of Cold War paved a path for a life in which western models and ideas prevailed. The western model has been sought after by many developing and underdeveloped states. However, Russia was not on board and the invasion is already proving that history did not quite end yet for the Russian regime contrary to what Fukuyama argued. Whether we see an extension of political history where competition continues, thus bringing us back to a bi- or multipolar system or the actual end of history as Fukuyama describes it, is a question to ask. In any case, aggression needs to be stood against and realpolitik should not justify mass scale atrocities and destruction.
