Goodbye, Global East? Failed Strategic Essentialism and Wrong Epistemological Equation Through the Lens of Russia’s War Against Ukraine

This paper critically examines the notion of the Global East in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine. First, it deals with existing critiques, providing an overview of the main critical points raised by other scholars. It also points out new problems with Müller’s critique of post-socialism that emerged after February 24, 2022. Second, the article underlines the failed prospects of any strategic essentialism of the Global East as a consequence of Russia’s military expansionism. Third, it criticizes the false analogy with the Global North–South and the lack of proper reference to the existing discussion on global epistemologies.