The Limits of Analogies
The War in Ukraine as Historical Turning Point
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The war in Ukraine is not just a “shooting war” with tanks and artillery that recalls early 20th century conflicts. The model of an imperial centre inflicting violence on a colonized periphery could apply as well. But it is also a new asymmetric war with drones, cyber-attacks, economic sanctions, and a war of images and narratives with global reach. At the moment, we can say little about the new global quality and consequences of this war other than we are witnesses to this change. History does not offer any easy analogies and blueprints for the decision-making situations associated with this war.
(Osteuropa 4-5/2022, pp. 3–12)