The Impact of the Ukraine War on the Role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Global Politics

نویسندگان

1 Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

2 Department of Law, ET.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of International Relations, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

doi
10.22034/irfa.2025.553800.1306
چکیده

The war in Ukraine can be considered a major event and a significant development in the international order, with far-reaching consequences in the realm of international politics to date. Among these consequences is its impact on institutions and organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Given the presence of powerful actors such as China, India, and Russia, the SCO is regarded as one of the most influential organizations in international politics. Considering this organization's susceptibility to shifts in the international system, such as the war in Ukraine, it is important to note that the SCO Tianjin Summit of 2025 served as a demonstration of the organization's power. This study seeks to answer the following question using an explanatory-analytical method and the theoretical framework of neoliberal institutionalism: What has been the effect of the Ukraine war on the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in global politics? The research hypothesis argues that the war in Ukraine has strengthened relations among its member states, thereby raising the SCO's profile and increasing its influence. Findings indicate that the Ukraine crisis has not only increased the organization's capacity to play a more active role in managing regional and global crises but also expanded its economic, security, and political functions, fostering the formation and strengthening of an independent economic-security bloc. However, sustaining this trend will require managing internal political divisions, enhancing institutional cohesion, developing technological cooperation, and increasing international legitimacy, all of which are factors that will determine the organization's future influence on the global power structure.