Navigating Global South’s Ambivalent Stance on Russia-Ukraine War

The study reveals the complexity of the Global South's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war within a broader context of a changing world order.Through the lens of neorealism and constructivism, we explore how the positions of the Global South countries are influenced by their vision of own national interests, divergent perceptions of the causes and possible consequences of the war, and of the roles of the parties involved with regard to the prospects of reshaping the global system of international relations.We trace the increasing attention to the Global South in the West and the evolution of its perception from the concept of an economically disadvantaged Third World to an important geopolitical player.We discuss why the postcolonial perspective of war that has gained traction in Ukraine is perceived differently in the Global South due to their own historical experience, the role of the West, and Russian propaganda.We also analyse why the Western framing of the Russia-Ukraine war in the context of preserving the existing world order and as a battle between democracy and autocracy has limited appeal for the Global South.We discuss how pragmatic indifference and strategic opportunism are preventing countries in the Global South from taking a more active stance on the war, and how their governments are seeking to mitigate or compensate for the negative effects of the war.We analyse how China's perception of the war is influenced by competition with the U.S. and aspirations to build a multipolar world devoid of Western hegemony, and how Beijing's pro-Russian neutrality affects the position of the Global South.The article reveals how Ukraine, faced with the challenge of gaining political support from the Global South, while being critically dependent on military and financial assistance from the Global North, has achieved certain progress in this regard, but still seeks a more active engagement of the Global South as a potential balancing force in world order.