Invitation
Organizers:
Date:
November 5, 2026
Time:
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Entrance Fee:
Free
Location:
Aula, De La Salle Building, University of Aruba
War in the Borderland: Four Ways to Interpret the Conflict in Ukraine
Description
Why did the war in Ukraine happen, and what does it reveal about the changing international order?
Join us for the presentation of War in the Borderland: Four Ways to Interpret the Conflict in Ukraine, a timely study examining the origins and broader significance of the Russian-Ukrainian War through four complementary perspectives: geopolitics, geostrategy, geo-economics, and ideology.
Rather than attributing the conflict to a single cause, the book explores how Ukraine’s historical position between Russia and Central Europe, NATO enlargement, competing European and Eurasian integration projects, and contrasting political and civilizational narratives contributed to the escalation of tensions.
The presentation will examine Ukraine’s strategic importance, the security dilemma between Russia and the West, the role of economic competition, and the ideological dimensions of the conflict. Together, these perspectives reveal a war that extends beyond territorial conquest and forms part of a broader struggle over security, influence, identity, and the future of the international order.
The discussion will also consider what these developments mean for Aruba, particularly for small states navigating an increasingly interconnected and multipolar world.
Join us for an engaging exploration of Ukraine, Russia, geopolitics, and the forces reshaping our world.
Speaker
Dr. Paolo Pizzolo is Senior Assistant Professor at the University of Aruba’s Department of Public Administration & Organizational Science (PAOS). He earned his PhD in Political Science and International Relations from LUISS “Guido Carli” University of Rome in 2019 and collaborates with the Centre for Cooperation with Eurasia, the Mediterranean, and Sub-Saharan Africa (CEMAS) of the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. His previous positions include roles at Jagiellonian University (Kraków), HSE Moscow, and the Italian Prime Minister’s Office. His research interests include International Relations theory, geopolitics, security studies, Eurasia, post-Soviet space, Balkans, Indo-Pacific, and small states.
Event Location
The main campus of the University of Aruba is centrally located in downtown Oranjestad and houses a number of Centers and Offices that promote academic growth, education, and research.
Our events are usually held at the main campus of the University of Aruba or online.
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