Hare, Rosen, and Storella Explore the Path Forward in Ukraine War
On December 7, 2022, the Alexander Hamilton Society and The Politica hosted an event titled “Ending the War in Ukraine: Diplomacy or Force of Arms,” featuring Ambassador Mark Storella, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and Director of BU’s African Studies Center, and Stephen Rosen, Professor of National Security and Military Affairs at Harvard University. Ambassador Paul Hare, Pardee School Senior Lecturer, served as the event’s moderator.
The discussion centered on the risks and implications of continued hostilities in Ukraine and how to balance those against the risks of pursuing diplomacy with an aggressive and apparently unrepentant Putin regime. Storella argued that, while we must continue to support Ukraine, the war must end through diplomatic negotiations, because it is not clear that force of arms will result in a decisive conclusion to the fighting; there are too many unpredictable risks involved in an open-ended conflict, including possible erosion of Western support, radiation disasters, or even escalation to use of nuclear weapons; and we need to end the war in a stable and durable peace that avoids another frozen conflict and frees us up to address other global interests.
Professor Rosen agreed that there would eventually be negotiations, but argued for the necessity of ejecting Russia from all Ukrainian territory. He noted that this may entail further escalation by the West, including deployment of more advanced weapons such as F-16 fighters, but also requires Western readiness to respond to the possible use of nuclear weapons by Moscow. He challenged students to “think the unthinkable” as the best means of preparing for possible contingencies.
Following the speaker’s remarks, students posed a wide range of questions, which led to the exploration of key issues, including: What are the implications of this war for the future of the rules-based international order? How are Central Asia countries adapting their own strategies to the war? How has the conflict-affected China’s views, including on its possible seizure of Taiwan? What does the West owe to Ukrainian society besides arms? What are the implications of Russia’s diplomatic isolation? Have the interests of the Russian people diverged from those of Vladimir Putin and what might the implications be for ending the war?
Ambassador Paul Hare was a British diplomat for 30 years and the British ambassador to Cuba from 2001-04. He now teaches classes at Boston University on Diplomatic Practice, Arms Control, Intercultural Communication, and on Cuba in Transition. His novel, “Moncada — A Cuban Story,” set in modern Cuba, was published in 2010. His book, “Making Diplomacy Work; Intelligent Innovation for the Modern World” was published in 2015. Learn more about Professor Hare on his faculty profile.
Ambassador Mark C. Storella was a United States Foreign Service Officer for over three decades serving as Ambassador to Zambia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and Dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award, the Thomas Jefferson Award presented by American Citizens Abroad, and several Department of State superior and meritorious honor awards. Learn more about Ambassador Storella on his faculty profile.