Every Casus Belli Is False: Deconstructing Russia’s Case for War on Ukraine

Voices on Peace and War, Norwich University, John and Mary Frances Patton Peace & War Center 24 June 2022.

16 Pages Posted: 4 May 2022 Last revised: 21 Oct 2023

See all articles by Dan Ciuriak

Dan Ciuriak

Ciuriak Consulting Inc.; Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI); C.D. Howe Institute; Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; BKP Development Research & Consulting GmbH

Date Written: June 16, 2022

Abstract

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not only been fought physically but in information space to control the narrative. In the modern information age, the preparation of the ground for war tends to follow a rather simple formula: de-legitimize the target country; demonize the target country; set out a list of grievances to legitimize the use of force; concoct a “casus belli” (a cause for war) to serve as a trigger; and launch pre-emptive strikes on ulterior motives. Almost invariably, wars feature a predator-prey relationship: they are started by more powerful countries attacking a weaker country in pursuit of some “interest”. Given this, the war is fought on the territory of the weaker power, while the larger power portrays the invasion as a “liberation” and the invaders as “saviours” once the deed is done. This note considers how Russia’s preparation of the case for its war on Ukraine fits against this template.

Keywords: casus belli, Ukraine, Russia, propaganda, information society

JEL Classification: F51, N44

Suggested Citation

Ciuriak, Dan, Every Casus Belli Is False: Deconstructing Russia’s Case for War on Ukraine (June 16, 2022). Voices on Peace and War, Norwich University, John and Mary Frances Patton Peace & War Center 24 June 2022., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4078861 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4078861

Dan Ciuriak (Contact Author)

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