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Russia’s and America’s 21st-century wars: Mirror images?
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Journal Article (2023)
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Investigates the 21st-century wars of Russia and America, exploring their methods, motivations, and implications for global power dynamics.
The 21st century has seen Russia and America engage in wars that reflect their pursuit of power, influence, and security. Russia’s military operations, such as the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have been characterized by large-scale conventional conflict, a departure from its previous tactics of deception and disinformation. This shift has been driven by internal motivations and external pressures, including the need to demonstrate military strength and respond to perceived threats from NATO and a Western-backed Ukraine. The Russian military’s challenges, such as corruption and inadequate resources, have been highlighted, with reports indicating poor supply conditions and low morale among soldiers. The cultural glorification of sacrifice and military power in Russia has been cultivated over decades, influencing public support for military actions despite economic sanctions and international condemnation.
America’s military strategy in the 21st century has been marked by a continuation of its hegemonic pursuits, characterized by remote warfare and the use of advanced technologies. The U.S. has increasingly relied on drones, special forces, and proxy actors to conduct military operations, minimizing American casualties while maintaining global military presence. This approach, termed ”3-D Wars,” involves delegation, danger-proofing, and darkness, allowing the U.S. to engage in sustained, low-exposure operations. The use of drones has raised ethical concerns, as it detaches human emotion from warfare, leading to dehumanized and amoral exercises of power. The American military’s focus on minimizing risk and casualties contrasts with Russia’s acceptance of sacrifice as a measure of military superiority.
Key findings
- Russia's military operations have shifted from deception to large-scale conventional warfare, as seen in the 2022 Ukraine invasion.Evidence
The invasion of Ukraine involved overt military action, contrasting with Russia's previous tactics of disinformation and light military presence, such as in the 2014 Crimea annexation. Reports indicate that 40% of Russian forces in Ukraine are conscripts, facing poor supply conditions and low morale.
What it meansThis shift reflects Russia's need to demonstrate military strength and respond to perceived threats, influenced by a cultural glorification of sacrifice and military power.
- America's military strategy emphasizes remote warfare and advanced technologies to maintain global presence while minimizing casualties.Evidence
The U.S. has increasingly used drones, special forces, and proxy actors in military operations, with drone strikes doubling from 52 in 2009 to 128 in 2010. The use of drones has been criticized for detaching human emotion from warfare, leading to dehumanized and amoral exercises of power.
What it meansThis approach allows the U.S. to engage in sustained, low-exposure operations, reflecting a culture of militarism and risk-aversion.
- Both Russia and America have shown disregard for civilian casualties in their military operations.Evidence
Between 2014 and 2020, the U.S.-UK Coalition killed over 38,000 civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, while Russia has been linked to as many as 23,400 civilian deaths in Syria. Russian military actions in Syria and Ukraine have been criticized for failing to avoid harming civilians.
What it meansThe mounting civilian costs highlight the convergence of Russia and America in showing total disregard for human life in their pursuit of military objectives.
- The use of drones and remote warfare by America has transformed warfare into a form of international policing without due process.Evidence
The Authorization for the Use of Military Force Act allows the U.S. president to conduct drone strikes globally, with no temporal or geographical limit. This has led to drone strikes in countries like Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, often resulting in civilian casualties.
What it meansThe transformation of warfare into international policing raises ethical concerns, as it blurs the line between military and civilian spaces and undermines the rule of law.
- The future of warfare will be shaped by technological advancements, including autonomous weapons and AI.Evidence
Autonomous weapons, such as Israel's HARPY drone, can select and engage targets without human intervention. The development of AI in warfare presents opportunities for improved intelligence gathering and conflict prevention but also raises ethical concerns about accountability and proportionality.
What it meansThe increasing sophistication of military technology poses moral and ethical questions, as autonomous weapons could become cheap, selective weapons of mass destruction.
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Russia’s and America’s 21st-century wars: Mirror images?
Cite this brief: Hamourtziadou, Lily. 'Russia’s and America’s 21st-century wars: Mirror images?'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/russias-and-americas-21st-century-wars-mirror-images/
Brief created by: Dr Lily Hamourtziadou | Year brief made: 2025
Original research:
- Jackson, J., Hamourtziadou, L., & Winch, R., ‘Russia’s and America’s 21st-century wars: Mirror images?’ Journal of Global Faultlines 10(1) (pp. 10–26) https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document. – https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/jglobfaul.10.1.0010
Research brief:
Investigates the 21st-century wars of Russia and America, exploring their methods, motivations, and implications for global power dynamics.
The 21st century has seen Russia and America engage in wars that reflect their pursuit of power, influence, and security. Russia’s military operations, such as the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have been characterized by large-scale conventional conflict, a departure from its previous tactics of deception and disinformation. This shift has been driven by internal motivations and external pressures, including the need to demonstrate military strength and respond to perceived threats from NATO and a Western-backed Ukraine. The Russian military’s challenges, such as corruption and inadequate resources, have been highlighted, with reports indicating poor supply conditions and low morale among soldiers. The cultural glorification of sacrifice and military power in Russia has been cultivated over decades, influencing public support for military actions despite economic sanctions and international condemnation.
America’s military strategy in the 21st century has been marked by a continuation of its hegemonic pursuits, characterized by remote warfare and the use of advanced technologies. The U.S. has increasingly relied on drones, special forces, and proxy actors to conduct military operations, minimizing American casualties while maintaining global military presence. This approach, termed ”3-D Wars,” involves delegation, danger-proofing, and darkness, allowing the U.S. to engage in sustained, low-exposure operations. The use of drones has raised ethical concerns, as it detaches human emotion from warfare, leading to dehumanized and amoral exercises of power. The American military’s focus on minimizing risk and casualties contrasts with Russia’s acceptance of sacrifice as a measure of military superiority.
Findings:
Russia’s military operations have shifted from deception to large-scale conventional warfare, as seen in the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
The invasion of Ukraine involved overt military action, contrasting with Russia’s previous tactics of disinformation and light military presence, such as in the 2014 Crimea annexation. Reports indicate that 40% of Russian forces in Ukraine are conscripts, facing poor supply conditions and low morale.
This shift reflects Russia’s need to demonstrate military strength and respond to perceived threats, influenced by a cultural glorification of sacrifice and military power.
America’s military strategy emphasizes remote warfare and advanced technologies to maintain global presence while minimizing casualties.
The U.S. has increasingly used drones, special forces, and proxy actors in military operations, with drone strikes doubling from 52 in 2009 to 128 in 2010. The use of drones has been criticized for detaching human emotion from warfare, leading to dehumanized and amoral exercises of power.
This approach allows the U.S. to engage in sustained, low-exposure operations, reflecting a culture of militarism and risk-aversion.
Both Russia and America have shown disregard for civilian casualties in their military operations.
Between 2014 and 2020, the U.S.-UK Coalition killed over 38,000 civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, while Russia has been linked to as many as 23,400 civilian deaths in Syria. Russian military actions in Syria and Ukraine have been criticized for failing to avoid harming civilians.
The mounting civilian costs highlight the convergence of Russia and America in showing total disregard for human life in their pursuit of military objectives.
The use of drones and remote warfare by America has transformed warfare into a form of international policing without due process.
The Authorization for the Use of Military Force Act allows the U.S. president to conduct drone strikes globally, with no temporal or geographical limit. This has led to drone strikes in countries like Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, often resulting in civilian casualties.
The transformation of warfare into international policing raises ethical concerns, as it blurs the line between military and civilian spaces and undermines the rule of law.
The future of warfare will be shaped by technological advancements, including autonomous weapons and AI.
Autonomous weapons, such as Israel’s HARPY drone, can select and engage targets without human intervention. The development of AI in warfare presents opportunities for improved intelligence gathering and conflict prevention but also raises ethical concerns about accountability and proportionality.
The increasing sophistication of military technology poses moral and ethical questions, as autonomous weapons could become cheap, selective weapons of mass destruction.