ENERGY, ASYMMETRIC DEPENDENCE, AND NATIONAL SECURITY: EXPLAINING HUNGARY AND POLAND’S DIFFERENT RESPONSES TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE

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Date

2023

Authors

Leof, Nathaniel

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded parts of eastern Ukraine, significantly escalating the war that began in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea. Since the invasion, the European Union (EU) has rallied support from its member countries to support Ukraine with military arms, by imposing sweeping sanctions on Russia, and by continuing to support Ukrainian territorial integrity. Hungary has been a unique exception in the EU, withholding support for Ukraine in a number of ways. Poland, a country with a similar recent political history and ideological leadership, has done the opposite, arguably supporting Ukraine the most of any EU country. This paper uses a most similar systems design method approach to examine what is causing these two countries to respond so differently to the invasion of Ukraine. This paper finds that the difference in each country’s energy infrastructure is the most likely explanation for their difference in response to the war in Ukraine. With these findings, it discusses new factors that international alliances should consider when constructing their security policies.

Description

62 pages

Keywords

Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Energy, Dependence

Citation