By Sarah Laud, Staff Writer
Professor Paul D. Miller, a current Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, visited Gettysburg College on Tuesday, March 22 to talk with students about the invasion of Ukraine, the lead-up to the invasion, and where the nature of the war is headed.
Miller began his lecture by exploring the roots of the Ukrainian War. Nearly one month ago, Russia declared a nuclear attack on Ukraine as part of their agenda to invade the country. Vladimir Putin’s agenda is to not just take over old communist territory, but he justifies his actions as a way to save ethnic Russians against genocide from Ukraine forces defending themselves. Since then, nuclear forces in Russia have been heightened.
“Commentators are wondering how close we are to World War III,” Miller said. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that it is likely World War III has already begun.
Outlined in Miller’s lecture were the stakeholders involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Miller explained that it is not only individual countries who are questioning the well-being of the world, but that the World Order at large is at risk. Similar to the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO), the World Order is a social system made up of the interactions between the most influential countries in the world.
The nature of the World Order is highly dependent on the power and behavior of the world powers. For example, the current World Order is a Free World Order where the most powerful countries all value democracy and individual freedom.
Miller said, “As Russia maintains their attack, the Free World will no longer be.”
There are alternatives to today’s World Order as changes are natural in societal evolution. However, Miller said the invasion of Ukraine is an attack on the Free World and people have to ask themselves if they want to live in a Free World or an Imperial World. Miller argued that people should care about the Russian invasion because it sets a future precedent for world conflicts.
Many politicians and policy leaders continue to be hopeful. “Putin is an actor,” Miller said. The rest of the world has and will continue to set the stage for him. Sanctions have become a new form of siege warfare. Information technology and surveillance are aiding Ukraine, and countries with little leadership previously have shown a new interest in taking a stance.
Miller continued with his thoughts on whether war would be a productive initiative to stop Putin’s agenda. First and foremost, he said there would need to be more military aid and conventional weapons.
“Global Economic Warfare is as productive an option as we have right now,” Miller said.
Miller discussed the possibility that Russia may invade Poland; however, he stated that the likelihood of Putin sending troops there is small.
Miller said, “Putin’s political agenda includes waiting for the oligarchs to react. He wants to see what Germany does. He wants to see what China does. He wants to return to a Communist World Order.”
At the American homefront, the best hope for Ukraine is to have oligarchs and the developed and developing worlds turn against Putin.
“The developing world has been standoffish and that’s disappointing on many fronts,” Miller said.
Miller explained that Germany and China have not helped Russia in any way, and he believes their abstinence is encouraging. Due to the size of the Chinese economy, Miller claimed that China’s involvement in the invasions would be more hurtful to them than anything else.
