Biden’s Soft Power vs. Coercive Diplomacy and Responding to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Andrzej Marcin Demczuk

Abstract


The article examines Russia’s military attack on Ukraine, and proposes actions to solve the crisis. It starts with an analysis of America’s relations with Ukraine prior to 2021–2022, and explains why we have to deal with Ukraine case to begin with. Next, it describes the primary drivers of Russia’s continued interest in invading Ukrainian territory. Finally, the author analyses Biden’s foreign policies and determines what type of strategy should be executed to bring peace and stability back to the region.


Keywords


Joe Biden, Ukraine, Russia, military buildup, the United States of America, hard power, soft power, coercive diplomacy

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aarup S.A. (2021), Putin demands Western security guarantees to end threat of Ukraine invasion, “Politico”, https://www.politico.eu/article/vladimir-putin-demand-western-security-guarantees-end-threat-ukraine-invasion/ [access: 27.12.2021].

Alim E. (2020), Decentralize or Else’: Russia’s Use of Offensive Coercive Diplomacy Against Ukraine, “World Affairs”, Vol. 183(2), 155–182. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0043820020919907.

Bowen A. (2019), Coercive Diplomacy and the Donbas: Explaining Russian Strategy in Eastern Ukraine, “Journal of Strategic Studies”, Vol. 42(3–4), 312–343. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2017.1413550.

Brzeziński Z. (1994), The Premature Partnership, “Foreign Affairs”, Vol. 73(2), 80.

Bureiko N. (2021), Whither US-Ukraine relations during a Biden presidency?, “New Eastern Europe”, Vol. 45(1–2), 104–106.

Burns R. (2022), Risk of a Ukraine war spreading in Europe rests on unknowns, “AP NEWS”, https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-vladimir-putin-world-war-ii-f34ed9384c3cf1b9a1a8025527baf008 [access: 18.02.2022].

Council on Foreign Relations. (2021), Conflict in Ukraine, https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine [access: 27.12.2021].

Grant T. (2014), The Budapest Memorandum of 5 December 1994: Political Engagement or Legal Obligation?, “Polish Yearbook of International Law”, Vol. 34, 89–114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7420/pyil2014e.

Hashemi S.A., Sahrapeyma M. (2018), Proxy war and US’s smart-power strategy (the case of Syria, 2011–2016), “The Quarterly Journal of Political Studies of Islamic World”, Vol. 6(24), 83–101.

Havertz R. (2019), Trump’s Departure from Smart Power, “Zeitschrift für Außen-und Sicherheitspolitik”, Vol. 12(1), 93–111.

Kyporenko I., Ferris-Rotman A. (2022), The Threat of a Russian Invasion Is Crushing Ukraine’s Economy and Culture, “Time”, https://time.com/6149567/ukraine-russia-culture-economy-impact/

[access: 20.02.2022].

Krieg A. (2017), Trump and the Middle East: ‘Barking Dogs Seldom Bite’, “Insight Turkey”, Vol. 19(3), 139–158.

Levy J.S. (2008), Deterrence and Coercive Diplomacy: The Contributions of Alexander George, “Political Psychology”, Vol. 29(4), 537–552.

Mastro O.S. (2011), Signaling and Military Provocation in Chinese National Security Strategy: A Closer Look at the Impeccable Incident, “Journal of Strategic Studies”, Vol. 34(2), 219–244.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2011.559025.

McFaul M. (2021), Opinion: Putin wants us to negotiate over the heads of our allies. Washington shouldn’t fall for it, “The Washington Post”, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/

/12/21/putin-draft-treaties-negotiations-allies-mcfaul/ [access: 13.01.2022].

Miller C. (2022), Russia Thinks America Is Bluffing, To Deter a Ukraine Invasion, Washington’s Threats Need to Be Tougher, “Foreign Affairs”, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2022-01-10/russia-thinks-america-bluffing [access: 17.01.2022].

Moore M. (2021), Satellite pics show Russia bolstering forces along Ukraine border: report, “The New York Post”, https://nypost.com/2021/12/24/russia-reportedly-adds-more-tankstroops-

at-ukraine-border/ [access: 27.12.2021].

NPR. (2021), Why Russia-Ukraine tensions have again reached a boiling point, https://www.npr.org/2021/12/07/1062092373/why-russia-ukraine-tensions-have-again-reached-a-boilingpoint?t=1640554156164 [access: 26.12.2021].

Nye J.S. (2008), The American Behavioral Scientist, “Beverly Hills”, Vol. 51(9), 1351–1356.

Nye J.S., Armitage R.L. (2008), Implementing Smart Power: Setting an Agenda for National Security Reform, “Statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 24”, http://csiswebsite-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/attachments/ts0804024armitage-

nye.pdf [access: 30.12.2021].

Nye J.S. Jr. (2009), Smart Power, “New Perspectives Quarterly”, Vol. 26(2), 7–9.

Nye J.S. (2014), The Information Revolution and Soft Power, “Current History”, Vol. 113(759), 19–22.

Nye J.S. (2010), The Powers to Lead, Oxford.

Onuch O., Sandoval J.P. (2022), A majority of Ukrainians support joining NATO. Does this matter?, “The Washington Post”, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/04/majority-

ukrainians-support-joining-nato-does-this-matter/ [access: 17.022022].

Pifer S. (2017), The Eagle and the Trident: U.S.-Ukraine Relations in Turbulent Times, Washington.

Romashko Y. (2022), Opinion: The U.S. could help financially strapped Ukraine by scrapping hidden surcharges on its IMF loan, “Money Watch”, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-u-s-could-help-financially-strapped-ukraine-by-scrapping-hidden-surcharges-on-its-imfloan-11645128627 [access: 22.02.2022].

Seymour M. (2021), Building soft power back better, “Foreign Policy Research Institute”, https://www.fpri.org/article/2021/03/building-soft-power-back-better/ [access: 17.02.2022].

Sheen S. (2020), U.S. Coercive Diplomacy toward Pyongyang: Obama vs. Trump, “The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis”, Vol. 32(4), 517–538. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22883/kjda.2020.32.4.002.

Simmons A.M. (2021), Putin Blames the West for Ukraine Tensions During News Conference; Leader Says Russia Isn’t Seeking Conflict with Neighboring Nation, Warns Against NATO Expansion,

“The Wall Street Journal. Eastern Edition”, https://www.proquest.com/docview/2612720654?parentSessionId=

VIFboUFWisgDapl2Dk5FDW92wy7UDz2pmX4sblPPCs%3D&pq-origsite=primo&accountid=14541 [access: 28.12.2021].

Simons G. (2021), Hard and soft power approaches to armed conflicts: the United States in Iraq and Russia in Syria, “Russia in Global Affairs”, Vol. 19(2), 86–110.

Skillen D. (2017), Putin and ‘normalized’ lies, “POLIS: Journalism and Society at the LSE”, http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/79030/1/blogs.lse.ac.uk-Putin%20and%20normalised%20lies.pdf [access: 29.12.2021].

Snegovaya M. (2021), The Taming of the Shrew: How the West Could Make the Kremlin Listen, “European View”, Vol. 20(1), 72–79.

Stephen L.F., Wilson P.A., Gordon I.V. (2015), The Ukrainian Crisis and European Security: Implications for the United States and US Army, “Rand Arroyo Center Santa Monica CA”, https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA616159.pdf [access: 29.01.2022].

Townsend J. (2022), What It Will Take to Deter Russia, The Lessons of the U.S. Failure in Ukraine in 2014, “Foreign Affairs”, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2022-01-07/whatit-will-take-deter-russia [access: 17.01.2022].

Vindman A., Bustillos D.C. (2022), The Day After Russia Attacks, What War in Ukraine Would Look Like – and How America Should Respond, “Foreign Affairs”, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukraine/2022-01-21/day-after-russia-attacks [access: 21.01.2022].




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/teka.2022.17.1.7-21
Date of publication: 2023-06-05 09:32:44
Date of submission: 2022-03-03 14:07:41


Statistics


Total abstract view - 828
Downloads (from 2020-06-17) - PDF - 673

Indicators



Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2023

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.