The Myth of Peace: Imperialism and Control of Occupied Lands from Ukraine to Gaza

Siamak Naficy 

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Warfare is often viewed through a Eurocentric lens, framing conflicts as binary events—war or peace—that oversimplify global realities. Rooted in European concepts (e.g., Westphalian sovereignty, nation-states, formal declarations of war), this view assumes war is a temporary rupture in an otherwise peaceful status quo, followed by negotiations and treaties. However, conflicts from Ukraine to Gaza demonstrate that traditional notions of war fail to capture the continuous, structural violence experienced in regions where force is a routine tool of dominance.

The annexation of Crimea, the war in Donbas, and Israel’s internationally recognized illegal occupation of Palestinian territories challenge traditional notions of war. These regions remain in perpetual insecurity, blurring the lines between war and peace. By studying such “irregular wars” on the global periphery, we can move beyond this binary framework and see war as a permanent condition, tied to imperial legacies.

Imperialism shapes not only borders and governments but also leaves behind structures of exploitation and inequality that fuel ongoing violence. Rethinking conflict this way allows for more meaningful peacebuilding, addressing the root causes of violence in both historical and modern contexts.

Consider, for instance, Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Many Western analyses viewed this as the start of a new phase of conflict, marking a deviation from the prior “peace” in the region. However, this perspective overlooks the long-standing historical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which have roots in imperial control, cultural suppression, and Soviet-era policies that destabilized Ukrainian sovereignty. The annexation itself was presented by Russia as a “reunification” rather than an act of war, reflecting a different understanding of conflict that sees war and peace as more fluid concepts. This continuous assertion of Russian dominance over Ukraine, not just through overt military aggression but through economic coercion, political subversion, and disinformation campaigns, blurs the traditional boundaries between war and peace.