Thread by @alexstubb

There is a general misconception in Europe and the US that the war in Ukraine is only about Russia and the ”West”. It is not. Ramifications are broader - also about the West and the ”Rest”. This 10 point thread 🧵 looks at some of the reactions around the world.

1/10

There was a sigh of relief when 141 states voted against Russia in the @UN. Certainly not a bad outcome, but reality is that many of those votes were ”soft”. And that the 35 abstaining members represent over half of the worlds population. Picture more complex than numbers.

2/10

When I talk with my friends outside of Europe and the US, things look different. It is not about indifference, but a sentiment that this is ”your war, not ours”. That it concerns the West, but has reprecussions on the rest of the world - for ex. price of food and energy.

3/10

There are many reasons why the world is not united in condemning Russia. About loyalties and interests, but also resentment: history (colonialism), climate change (polluters), Covid (vax distribution), asylum (indifference) and institutions (representation).

4/10

A more serious concern is linked to Western hypocrisy. A feeling that the West tries to have a cake and eat it too. Not a fan of whataboutism, but if you want to project a rules based world order, then you have to live as you preach. And we don’t - ICC, Iraq, Libya, etc.

5/10

Reactions of members of the @_AfricanUnion are telling. Sentiment that the conflict is a continum of tensions between Russia & the West. Thus best stay non-aligned. African nations correctly point out that territorial integrity was not exactly a priority of colonial powers.

6/10

India sits on the fence. It is a member of the Quad with the US, Australia and Japan. At the same time it is one of the biggest arms importers from Russia and has to have its eye on issues linked to Pakistan and territorial integrity. Thus the abstention in the UN.

7/10

Latin American countries have been split in their response. Most supporting Ukraine, defending non-intervention and self-determination. A minority arguing that Russia is legitimately responding to the expansion of NATO.

8/10

Debates in both Asia and the Middle-East are heavily reliant on interests, including alliances and energy. They are often linked to political or economic commitments to the US and/or China. Yet another example of flexible, rather than rigid alliances.

9/10

The point with this 🧵, is to warn about ”Eurocentrisism”. The danger of making an assumption that Russia is globally isolated or condemned. It is not. Thus important for the West to step back, learn a lesson, and reflect about its own role in the new world of disorder.

10/10

Bonus: Instead of asking the rest of the world to pick sides, perhaps it is time to sit down together and think about what a new world order, based on common rules, could look like? Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. Likely? Don’t think so.

END

And just for the record: just because I try to explain reactions around the world does not mean I agree with them. Most of the time I don’t, but important to try to understand the world outside our own bubble.