What we're reading: March 2026
This month at the Defence Research Network, we’ve been examining how the war in Ukraine is reshaping the global order, and how key concepts of International Relations help us make sense of contemporary conflict.
The War in Ukraine and the Changing World Order by Stipe Buzar and Jean-François Caron examines the conflict as a defining moment in global politics, analysing the Russian regime, its relationship with the West, and the strategic, moral, and legal dimensions of the war, while assessing Western responses and the shift towards a more contested, multipolar order. Meanwhile, International Politics and the Russo-Ukrainian War: Concepts in Conflict by Jonathan Paquin and Alexander Lanoszka uses the invasion as a lens to explore ten key concepts of International Relations, linking theory to practice through rigorous, concept-driven analysis. Together, these books show how the war in Ukraine is both reshaping the global order and deepening our understanding of the theories used to explain it.
The War in Ukraine and the Changing World Order
By Stipe Buzar, Jean-François Caron
This new edited book examines the war in Ukraine as a turning point in the global order, bringing together perspectives from political science, economics, philosophy, and history. It analyses the nature of the Russian regime, its relationship with the West, and the strategic, moral, and legal dimensions of the conflict. The volume also evaluates Western responses and argues that the war signals a shift from post–Cold War liberal convergence towards a more contested, multipolar world.
International Politics and the Russo-Ukrainian War: Concepts in Conflict
By Jonathan Paquin, Alexander Lanoszka
This new edited book explores the Russian invasion of Ukraine through ten key concepts of International Relations, offering a structured framework for understanding contemporary conflict. Bringing together leading scholars, each chapter examines a core concept, linking theory to practice through the case of interstate war. Combining rigorous analysis, critical debate, and engagement with recent literature, the volume provides both students and experts with a deeper understanding of the dynamics shaping 21st-century international politics.
