16
January 2026
Wars of Aggression
The concept of aggression aimed at changing borders by force must always be seen in the broader context, in the ideologies that motivate it.
For example, what we call the Italian wars of independence, from the perspective of international law, were wars of aggression to change the borders of the Austrian Empire. The actions of the Garibaldians—an aggression against an independent state by people coming from abroad—were, for us, just and glorious wars, with the Garibaldians seen as pure heroes.
There are also secession wars, like that of the American South, the bloodiest of its time, it seems.
So, is the revolt in Donbass a war of liberation, is Russia’s aggression a war based on the principle of nationality, for Russia’s security, or an imperialist war?
It depends on the point of view, on the interpretation of the facts.