Evaluating the Role of Energy in the Ukraine War and the Emerging New World Order within the Framework of Interdependence Theories

Energy security has become intricately intertwined with state power, resulting in a complex web of interdependence among energy-producing and consuming countries. Any disruption in this network of interdependencies can have significant ripple effects on the international system. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 had a profound impact on the international system following the Cold War. Russia's substantial reserves of oil and gas have historically positioned it as the primary energy exporter to Europe, and the interconnected energy networks resulted in a significant level of interdependence. The main questions of this research are, considering the significance of energy in the dynamics between Russia and Europe, what has been the role of this prominent factor in the conflicts between Russia and Europe? And what changes did the consequences of the war in Ukraine create in the energy geopolitics of the international system? In this regard, this study seeks to find the correlation of energy in the Ukraine war within the framework of interdependence theories, and its findings indicate that energy, as a strong field of interdependence between Russia and Europe, for reasons such as ideological differences, long-standing distrust, and most importantly, the weaponized use of it by the parties not only failed to create a pluralistic security society but have also led to threatening perceptions. These perceptions have escalated to the point of war and have had an impact on international relations.