The War between Russia and Ukraine

Depending on the global, but also the European context, peace ethical perspectives on the Russian-Ukrainian war differ considerably. While many Northern, Western, Middle and South Eastern European states stress the illegitimacy and illegality of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine according to international law, some European and many states in the global South and East take a different stance. Thus, important international agents like South Africa have abstained from voting on UN resolution A/RES/ES-11/1 (March 2nd, 2022) and also the renewed resolution A/ES-11/L.7 (February 23rd, 2023); Brazil’s president Lula da Silva claims neutrality in the conflict. South African officials understand Russia as a long-standing ally and the conflict as a recalibration of the global order - and they don’t stand alone with that view.

This book brings together voices from theology, political science and peace ethics from three continents for an intercontinental public theological and interdisciplinary conversation on peace ethics that takes decolonial perspectives into account without giving up claims of universal validity of human rights.