Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is shocking because it is so unusual for one country to so brazenly attack another’s political independence and territorial sovereignty today. A norm against territorial conquest — especially, against the wholesale erasure of countries from the world map — has conditioned international relations since the end of World War II.
Russia’s behavior raises the question: Are we witnessing the demise of that norm?
Not necessarily — but maybe.
Conquest of land, including of entire countries, used to be relatively common. Traditionally, countries that lie between two other countries who are rivals — were especially vulnerable to conquest. Often, great powers located on either side of buffer states did not trust each other, not to take over the buffers between them.
Beginning in the early 20th century and, certainly, after World War II, however, a norm against such territorial conquest emerged. Promoted especially by the United States, but with support from around the world, this principle is most clearly enshrined in Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter: “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.”
If, however, the world accepts a wholesale annexation of Ukraine, with little effective response — if Ukraine were to be erased from Europe’s map — the norm against conquest would be severely, perhaps even fatally, damaged.
Historically, most wars between countries have been fought over territory. The norm against territorial conquest was meant to decrease the incidence of this type of war.
The risk of overturning the norm is a return to a world of conquest and violent state death.
READ FULL ARTICLE: What happens to the norm against conquest? (msn.com)