Fazal (2022) Putin is breaking 70 years of norms by invading Ukraine

Russia's invasion of Ukraine marks a significant departure from established international norms regarding territorial sovereignty and conquest.
Such invasions are particularly shocking post-World War II, where norms against territorial conquest had been established and mostly respected.
With Russia’s actions, the question arises whether this represents the decay of those norms.

Conquest of nations was a common practice historically, particularly impacting buffer states - countries lying between rival powers.
Examples include:
- Poland's recurrent partitioning by more powerful neighbors.
- Korea's vulnerability leading to conquest in 1905, and Estonia's in 1940.
Ukraine's geographical position makes it similarly vulnerable to outside aggression, straddling the line between NATO and Russia.

Post-World War II, a norm against territorial conquest emerged, championed notably by the United States.
The U.N. Charter's Article 2(4) explicitly prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state.
This shift contributed to a period of relative peace characterized by a decline in the violent overthrow of states.
The emergence of nuclear weapons and an increase in global trade also fostered this peace.

The anti-conquest norm didn’t erase ambitions but shifted methods of political control.
Countries began to pursue foreign-imposed regime changes instead of direct conquest, illustrated by historical instances like the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956.

If the goal of Russia's invasion is to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine, the broader implications for the anti-conquest norm may still be limited.
However, the severe impact on Ukrainians is undeniable, as previous studies indicate the dire consequences of such interventions.
Unlike past actions, Putin's wider ambitions may include annexing Ukrainian territory, which directly challenges the anti-conquest norm.
- Previous actions:
  - Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea as a prelude.
  - Recognition of the independence claims of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Russia has historically sought to maintain an appearance of legitimacy in its territorial claims, employing tactics such as:
- Use of unmarked troops ("little green men") during the Crimea annexation.
- Legitimizing actions through sham referendums and justifications based on self-determination.
Putin’s current invasion appears to disregard prior pretexts for legitimacy.

The world faces a critical juncture: strong resistance to a potential annexation could reinforce the anti-conquest norm.
- Historical parallels exist, such as the global coalition against Iraq's invasion of Kuwait serving to fortify these norms.
Conversely, a lack of effective response could signify a debilitating shift back to a world where conquest is prevalent, threatening the very foundation of international relations stability.

Should Ukraine be erased from the map with minimal resistance, it would severely damage the anti-conquest norm.
The potential return to violent state death and conquest poses a grave risk to global peace and stability, underscoring the importance of robust international responses to transgressions.