The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification
Autor(a) principal: | |
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Data de Publicação: | 2023 |
Tipo de documento: | preprint |
Idioma: | eng |
Título da fonte: | SciELO Preprints |
Texto Completo: | https://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/preprint/view/5486 |
Resumo: | Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has mobilized different arguments to justify his bellicose stance, mainly the pursuit of NATO containment, the protection of ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking minorities, and the "denazification" of Ukraine. In this article I analyze the contradictions and inconsistencies in these three arguments. Firstly, I show that, although Russian elites had legitimate considerations to contest NATO enlargement during the post-Cold War era, there is no evidence that Putin’s military aggression was motivated by this issue: as previously expected, the invasion has further strengthened the alliance, provided it with a legitimate raison d'être, and contributed to an even more intense military presence near Russian borders; the European balance of power is now much more favorable to NATO than before the conflict. Secondly regarding the humanitarian intentions of protecting the Russian-speaking communities in Eastern Ukraine, the Russian invasion has so far led to the opposite result: ten months of war caused more civilian deaths than eight years of war in Donbas, and the Russian-speaking population has been exactly the most affected victim. Finally, with regard to the "fight against Nazism", although in Ukraine there are ultranationalist groups, there is no evidence that such groups currently count on significant political influence and broad support in society; furthermore, the Russian authorities themselves have ties to similar groups. The "denazification" narrative represents a strategy of demonizing the opponent, mobilized to legitimize the dismemberment and extinguishing of Ukraine as a state and nation. The current war has laid bare the Kremlin's double standard politics: civilian deaths resulting from attempts by Ukraine to regain control of its territory are evidence of "genocide"; while the civilian deaths resulting from the Russian invasion are just the "side effects" of a legitimate fight against "Nazis" and NATO. |
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The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and DenazificationLas contradicciones en la "guerra justa" de Vladimir Putin contra Ucrania: Los mitos de la contención de la OTAN, la protección de las minorías y la desnazificaciónAs contradições na "guerra justa" de Vladimir Putin contra a Ucrânia: Os mitos da contenção da OTAN, proteção de minorias e desnazificaçãoGuerra na UcrâniaGuerra Russo-UcranianaExpansão da OTANDesnazificaçãoVladimir PutinGuerra no DonbassInvasão da UcrâniaWar in UkraineRusso-Ukrainian WarNATO EnlargementDenazificationVladimir PutinWar in DonbasInvasion of UkraineGuerra en UcraniaAmpliación de la OTANGuerra en DonbasDesnazificaciónVladimir PutinGuerra Ruso-UcranianaInvasión de UcraniaSince Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has mobilized different arguments to justify his bellicose stance, mainly the pursuit of NATO containment, the protection of ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking minorities, and the "denazification" of Ukraine. In this article I analyze the contradictions and inconsistencies in these three arguments. Firstly, I show that, although Russian elites had legitimate considerations to contest NATO enlargement during the post-Cold War era, there is no evidence that Putin’s military aggression was motivated by this issue: as previously expected, the invasion has further strengthened the alliance, provided it with a legitimate raison d'être, and contributed to an even more intense military presence near Russian borders; the European balance of power is now much more favorable to NATO than before the conflict. Secondly regarding the humanitarian intentions of protecting the Russian-speaking communities in Eastern Ukraine, the Russian invasion has so far led to the opposite result: ten months of war caused more civilian deaths than eight years of war in Donbas, and the Russian-speaking population has been exactly the most affected victim. Finally, with regard to the "fight against Nazism", although in Ukraine there are ultranationalist groups, there is no evidence that such groups currently count on significant political influence and broad support in society; furthermore, the Russian authorities themselves have ties to similar groups. The "denazification" narrative represents a strategy of demonizing the opponent, mobilized to legitimize the dismemberment and extinguishing of Ukraine as a state and nation. The current war has laid bare the Kremlin's double standard politics: civilian deaths resulting from attempts by Ukraine to regain control of its territory are evidence of "genocide"; while the civilian deaths resulting from the Russian invasion are just the "side effects" of a legitimate fight against "Nazis" and NATO.Desde la invasión a gran escala de Ucrania por parte de Rusia en febrero de 2022, Putin ha movilizado diferentes argumentos para justificar su postura agresiva, principalmente la búsqueda de contener la ampliación de la OTAN, la protección de las minorías étnicas rusas y de habla rusa y la "desnazificación" de Ucrania.En este artículo analizo las contradicciones e inconsistencias en estos tres argumentos.En primer lugar, muestro que, aunque las élites rusas tenían consideraciones legítimas para contestar la ampliación de la OTAN durante el periodo posterior a la Guerra Fría, no hay evidencia de que la agresión militar de Putin estuviera motivada por este problema: como se esperaba anteriormente, la invasión ha fortalecido aún más la alianza,le proporcionó una “razón de ser” legítima y contribuyó a una presencia militar aún más intensa cerca de las fronteras rusas;el equilibrio de poder europeo está ahora mucho más favorable a la OTAN que antes del conflicto.En segundo lugar, con respecto a las intenciones humanitarias de proteger a las comunidades de habla rusa en el este de Ucrania, la invasión rusa ha llevado hasta ahora al resultado contrario: diez meses de guerra causaron más muertes de civiles que ocho años de guerra en Donbas, y la población de habla rusaha sido precisamente la víctima más afectada.Finalmente, con respecto a la “lucha contra el nazismo”, si bien en Ucrania existen grupos ultranacionalistas, no hay evidencia de que dichos grupos cuenten actualmente con una influencia política significativa y un amplio apoyo en la sociedad;las propias autoridades rusas tienen vínculos con grupos similares.La narrativa de la "desnazificación" representa una estrategia de deshumanización del oponente, movilizada para legitimar el desmembramiento y extinción de Ucrania como estado y nación.La guerra actual ha puesto al descubierto la política de doble rasero del Kremlin: las muertes de civiles resultantes de los intentos de Ucrania de recuperar el control de su territorio son evidencia de "genocidio";mientras que las muertes de civiles resultantes de la invasión rusa son solo los "efectos secundarios" de una lucha legítima contra los "nazis" y la OTAN. Palabras clave: Guerra en Ucrania (Guerra Ruso-Ucraniana); Ampliación de la OTAN; Guerra en Donbas, Desnazificación; Vladimir Putin. Desde a invasão em larga escala da Ucrânia pela Rússia em fevereiro de 2022, Putin mobilizou diferentes argumentos para justificar sua política agressiva, principalmente a busca pela contenção da expansão da OTAN, a proteção dos russos étnicos e das minorias de língua russa e a "desnazificação" da Ucrânia. Neste artigo, analiso as contradições e incoerências nesses três argumentos. Em primeiro lugar, mostro que, embora as elites russas tivessem considerações legítimas para contestar a expansão da OTAN no período pós-Guerra Fria, não há evidências de que a ação militar de Putin tenha sido motivada por essa questão: como já era esperado, a invasão veio a fortalecer ainda mais a aliança, propiciando-lhe uma “razão de ser” legítima e contribuindo para uma presença militar ainda mais intensa próxima às fronteiras russas; o equilíbrio de poder europeu está agora ainda mais favorável à OTAN do que antes do conflito. Em segundo lugar, em relação às intenções humanitárias de proteger as comunidades de língua russa no Leste da Ucrânia, a invasão russa até agora levou ao resultado oposto: dez meses de guerra causaram mais mortes de civis do que oito anos de guerra no Donbas, e a população de língua russa tem sido exatamente a maior vítima. Finalmente, no que diz respeito à “luta contra o nazismo”, embora na Ucrânia haja grupos ultranacionalistas, não há evidências de que tais grupos contem atualmente com significativa influência política e amplo apoio na sociedade; ademais, as próprias autoridades russas mantêm laços com grupos semelhantes. A narrativa da “desnazificação” representa uma estratégia de demonização do adversário, mobilizada para legitimar o desmembramento e extinção da Ucrânia como Estado e nação. A guerra atual revelou a política de “dois pesos e duas medidas” do Kremlin: as mortes de civis resultantes das tentativas de a Ucrânia recuperar o controle de seu território são evidências de um "genocídio"; enquanto as mortes de civis resultantes da invasão russa são apenas os "efeitos colaterais" de uma luta legítima contra "nazistas" e a OTAN.SciELO PreprintsSciELO PreprintsSciELO Preprints2023-01-31info:eu-repo/semantics/preprintinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttps://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/preprint/view/548610.1590/SciELOPreprints.5486enghttps://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/article/view/5486/contradictions-in-putin-arguments-war-in-ukraine-nato-enlargemenCopyright (c) 2023 Vicente Ferrarohttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessFerraro, Vicentereponame:SciELO Preprintsinstname:Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO)instacron:SCI2023-01-23T20:42:02Zoai:ops.preprints.scielo.org:preprint/5486Servidor de preprintshttps://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scieloONGhttps://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/oaiscielo.submission@scielo.orgopendoar:2023-01-23T20:42:02SciELO Preprints - Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO)false |
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification Las contradicciones en la "guerra justa" de Vladimir Putin contra Ucrania: Los mitos de la contención de la OTAN, la protección de las minorías y la desnazificación As contradições na "guerra justa" de Vladimir Putin contra a Ucrânia: Os mitos da contenção da OTAN, proteção de minorias e desnazificação |
title |
The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification |
spellingShingle |
The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification Ferraro, Vicente Guerra na Ucrânia Guerra Russo-Ucraniana Expansão da OTAN Desnazificação Vladimir Putin Guerra no Donbass Invasão da Ucrânia War in Ukraine Russo-Ukrainian War NATO Enlargement Denazification Vladimir Putin War in Donbas Invasion of Ukraine Guerra en Ucrania Ampliación de la OTAN Guerra en Donbas Desnazificación Vladimir Putin Guerra Ruso-Ucraniana Invasión de Ucrania |
title_short |
The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification |
title_full |
The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification |
title_fullStr |
The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification |
title_sort |
The Contradictions in Vladimir Putin's "Just War" against Ukraine: The Myths of NATO’s Containment, Minority Protection and Denazification |
author |
Ferraro, Vicente |
author_facet |
Ferraro, Vicente |
author_role |
author |
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv |
Ferraro, Vicente |
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv |
Guerra na Ucrânia Guerra Russo-Ucraniana Expansão da OTAN Desnazificação Vladimir Putin Guerra no Donbass Invasão da Ucrânia War in Ukraine Russo-Ukrainian War NATO Enlargement Denazification Vladimir Putin War in Donbas Invasion of Ukraine Guerra en Ucrania Ampliación de la OTAN Guerra en Donbas Desnazificación Vladimir Putin Guerra Ruso-Ucraniana Invasión de Ucrania |
topic |
Guerra na Ucrânia Guerra Russo-Ucraniana Expansão da OTAN Desnazificação Vladimir Putin Guerra no Donbass Invasão da Ucrânia War in Ukraine Russo-Ukrainian War NATO Enlargement Denazification Vladimir Putin War in Donbas Invasion of Ukraine Guerra en Ucrania Ampliación de la OTAN Guerra en Donbas Desnazificación Vladimir Putin Guerra Ruso-Ucraniana Invasión de Ucrania |
description |
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has mobilized different arguments to justify his bellicose stance, mainly the pursuit of NATO containment, the protection of ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking minorities, and the "denazification" of Ukraine. In this article I analyze the contradictions and inconsistencies in these three arguments. Firstly, I show that, although Russian elites had legitimate considerations to contest NATO enlargement during the post-Cold War era, there is no evidence that Putin’s military aggression was motivated by this issue: as previously expected, the invasion has further strengthened the alliance, provided it with a legitimate raison d'être, and contributed to an even more intense military presence near Russian borders; the European balance of power is now much more favorable to NATO than before the conflict. Secondly regarding the humanitarian intentions of protecting the Russian-speaking communities in Eastern Ukraine, the Russian invasion has so far led to the opposite result: ten months of war caused more civilian deaths than eight years of war in Donbas, and the Russian-speaking population has been exactly the most affected victim. Finally, with regard to the "fight against Nazism", although in Ukraine there are ultranationalist groups, there is no evidence that such groups currently count on significant political influence and broad support in society; furthermore, the Russian authorities themselves have ties to similar groups. The "denazification" narrative represents a strategy of demonizing the opponent, mobilized to legitimize the dismemberment and extinguishing of Ukraine as a state and nation. The current war has laid bare the Kremlin's double standard politics: civilian deaths resulting from attempts by Ukraine to regain control of its territory are evidence of "genocide"; while the civilian deaths resulting from the Russian invasion are just the "side effects" of a legitimate fight against "Nazis" and NATO. |
publishDate |
2023 |
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2023-01-31 |
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/preprint info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |
format |
preprint |
status_str |
publishedVersion |
dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv |
https://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/preprint/view/5486 10.1590/SciELOPreprints.5486 |
url |
https://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/preprint/view/5486 |
identifier_str_mv |
10.1590/SciELOPreprints.5486 |
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv |
eng |
language |
eng |
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https://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/article/view/5486/contradictions-in-putin-arguments-war-in-ukraine-nato-enlargemen |
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Copyright (c) 2023 Vicente Ferraro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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Copyright (c) 2023 Vicente Ferraro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
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openAccess |
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SciELO Preprints SciELO Preprints SciELO Preprints |
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SciELO Preprints SciELO Preprints SciELO Preprints |
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