From Homespace to Homeland: An Explanation for the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Research Thesis
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Date
2025-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
In this thesis, I seek to understand why Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. To answer this question, I draw on ontological security and recognition theory to analyze Russia’s relations vis-à-vis the West, NATO, and Ukraine. I conclude that since the end of the Cold War Russia has held a hubristic self-identity. Moscow believes it is a great power entitled to a sphere of influence in post-Soviet states, particularly in Ukraine. However, I argue that this quest for recognition did not necessitate a confrontational approach. I maintain that, from the 1990s to 2008, Russia embraced a homespace discourse, seeking to manage its anxiety and gain recognition through cooperation and engagement with the West. However, continued NATO expansion in spite of Russian protestations led Moscow to slowly embrace a homeland discourse, causing it to seek to isolate itself from outside threats and to take a more confrontational approach. Following the 2014 Ukraine crisis, tensions continued to build until Russia fully embraced homeland discourse. Moscow no longer believed that cooperation would lead to recognition of its hubristic identity. Rather, the Kremlin believed that only violence could bring about Western recognition of Russia’s great power identity. Therefore, the invasion of Ukraine is an attempt by Russia to gain recognition for its hubristic identity as a great power by asserting its sphere of influence over Kyiv. Additionally, the findings of this thesis provide a more salient explanation for the current Russia-Ukraine war than other explanations.
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Keywords
Recognition Theory, Ontological Security, Russian-Ukraine War, Russia, Ukraine, International Relations