The Russia-Ukraine and the Israel/Hamas Wars: An Analysis from the Perspective of Kant’s Theory of Peace (030119-WiSe24/25)

The course introduces students to Kant’s theory of peace. It then uses this introduction to highlight the 
difference between Kant’s model and the model one can infer from the democratic (or liberal) peace theory, 
namely, the explanation of the alleged fact that democracies have never fought each other. It concludes 
by discussing how each model would account for the Russian aggression against Ukraine and for the Israeli 
response to Hamas’ terrorist attack of October 7th 2023. What are the causes of these conflicts on the two 
models? Is the fact that Russia is an authoritarian regime and Hamas a terrostis group the sole relevant 
fact? Since Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Gaza, were and in part still are highly interdependent 
in their economies, are we witnessing a gigantic falsification of the liberal doctrine of doux commerce to 
which Kant’s third pillar of peace (cosmopolitan right) is often reduced? Does the fact that Russia still was 
at the beginning of the war a member of the Council of Europe count as a falsification of the second pillar, 
namely the idea that co-membership in a supranational federation averts war? Does the ineffectiveness of 
UN’s repeated stigmatization Israeli’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory count as proof that IGOs 
are unable to prevent wars? 
The course presupposes active participation. Students are required to select at least one text from the 
reading list and present it to their colleagues. It is expected that students read the material before class 
and participate in the discussion of the material presented. In addition to in-class presentations, students 
are required to write a 10-15 pages final paper on a topic relevant to the course, or to take a final oral 
exam.