The Last Invasion The War in Ukraine – A Sociological Account, Based on Kant's Theory of Peace Max Haller

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Haller, Max <p>Max Haller, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Wien), Österreich</p>, Author.

Series:

X-Texte zu Kultur und Gesellschaft

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

War.

Russia.

Ukraine.

Immanuel Kant.

European Politics.

Local Subjects:

War.

Russia.

Ukraine.

Immanuel Kant.

European Politics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (0 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

tw11570 Haller - THE LAST INVASION The War in Ukraine – A Sociological Account, Based on Kant's Theory of Peace

Place of Publication:

Bielefeld transcript Verlag 2025

Biography/History:

. Max Haller. , geb. 1947, forscht an der Österreichischen Akademie für Wissenschaften (Wien). Er war Soziologieprofessor in Graz und Gastprofessor an mehreren Universitäten in Europa, den USA sowie Afrika. Der Soziologe war Mitbegründer des »International Social Survey Programme« und der »European Sociological Association«.

Summary:

Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022 was called a watershed in postwar European history. The West sees Putin’s Russia on the way to restoring the former Soviet Union. But Putin’s increasingly aggressive stance was also a reaction to Western politics. The real possibility of a new security and peace order in Europe opening in the 1990s was not pursued. Instead, NATO was enlarged to the east. Now, a massive arms build-up is on the way. Using historical sources, international news media, representative surveys, and personal interviews with people in Ukraine, Max Haller shows that this war has not been predetermined and – following Kant – peace initiatives are possible even now. In these, the European Union should assume a leading role.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

List of boxes, charts, photos and tables

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1: The difficult birth and development of the Ukrainian nation

The geographical openness and vulnerability of the country

The historically delayed emergence of national consciousness

Tragedies in the 20th Century: World War I, Holodomor, World War II and Holocaust

The political and national development after the dissolution of the Soviet Union

The socio‐economic crash during the transformation process

Concluding remarks

Chapter 2: Western explanations and narratives on Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Clash of systems and cultures?

The insurrection in Eastern Ukraine as a 'new war'?

A historical 'turning point'?

The (neo‑) realist theory of international relations

A pacifist illusion in Europe?

Russia as a persistent evil empire with a population submissive to authority?

Chapter 3: Immanuel Kant's theory of war and peace

The historical context and the reception of Kant's theory

Prerequisites and necessary conditions for peace

The class interest thesis

The Democratic Peace thesis

Excursus: Are democracies really more peaceful?

Publicity and the moral foundation of politics

Personalities as masters of war and peace

Peacemaking as a discrete and permanent task

Chapter 4: Putin's rise, his networks and Great Russian nationalism

Understanding Putin does not mean justifying his actions or taking side with his defenders in the west

Stalin as a more adequate object of comparison than Hitler

Origin and career: (Not so) mysterious rise, acclaimed start, authoritarian turn

The elimination of democracy: The attack on Ukraine as a preventive strike

Reconstitution of the Soviet empire or Great Russian nationalism?.

The degradation of a grand power and its leader

Chapter 5: How a world‐historical opportunity for lasting peace in Europe was missed

A realistic vision to create a peaceful Europe stretching from the Atlantic to the Urals

Reunification immediately - whatever the consequences elsewhere. A bull in a China shop

An alliance between enemies of Russia in Europe and America

Fatal splits about national identity of the Ukraine

Political trench warfare among Ukrainian political elites

Chapter 6: From a war of independence to a proxy war

Types of wars and lessons from research on their continuation and termination

How the defensive fight of the Ukrainians became also a proxy war

The failures and devastating consequences of proxy wars

Military build‐up and support for Ukraine as an imperial interest of the USA

The EU narrative: The Ukraine as defender of European values

The reserved attitude of the countries of the Global South

The main victims of the war: The country and the people of Ukraine

Chapter 7: War as a social catalyst

War until victory over the Russians! Survey results on the uncompromising attitude of the Ukrainians

Fatalism, retreat to private life, courage of despair: Results from open‐ended interviews

Behavioural indicators for attitudes towards war

How the war strengthened patriotism, support for democracy and confidence in the future

Attitudes and behaviours of the elites. An outstanding president

Reasons for people's support of wars

Chapter 8: Negotiations as a Way Out of the Impasse of a Military Stalemate

'Help us win!' - Why there were no serious peace efforts during the First World War

The failure of the peace negotiations in Minsk and its causes.

Current calls for peace negotiations and their defamation

Necessity of negotiations in the face of the military stalemate

Supply weapons or abandon Ukraine? A false alternative

Eight conditions and steps for a sustainable ceasefire and peace

Could Russia agree to a ceasefire and peace negotiations?

Final conclusions and outlook

References

Notes

Chapter 5: How a world‐historical opportunity forlasting peace in Europe was missed

Final conclusions and outlook.

Notes:

[Auflage - Neueauflage]

ISBN:

3-8394-3604-4

9783839436042

OCLC:

1545615686

Publisher Number:

9783839436042