Resilience and International Relations: A Study of the Impact of Resilience Interpretations on Russia-NATO Relations and Human Rights

In the realm of international relations, resilience stands as a complex and pivotal political concept. Article 3 of NATO explicitly calls for member states to build resilience against potential threats. The most prominent threat as perceived by NATO is Russia, who also have been forced to adapt a resilience-based approach as a result of historical events. This thesis investigates how Russia, NATO, and potential member states interpret resilience, probing its impact on Human Rights and inter-state dynamics. Examining diverse perspectives, it reveals NATO and the EU’s focus on resilience against varied shocks, including countering Russian threats. In this context, the relationship between resilience and Human Rights is examined. Contrasting priorities emerge between NATO’s democratic principles and Russia’s stability-centric approach, highlighting tensions between stability and Human Rights. Uncovering the challenges in applying resilience, the inadvertent escalation of tensions due to its focus on otherness is emphasized. Based on the analysis carried out in this work, it is likely that political strategies centered around resilience will be detrimental with respect to Human Rights.