No Country for Heroes: Culture of Contemporary Wars

The article explores the evolution of the phenomenon of war in the context of political and sociocultural transformations over the past century. Using Carl von Clausewitz’s concept as a foundational model, the author traces the transition from the symmetric and regular interstate wars of the 18th and 19th centuries to contemporary conflicts marked by asymmetry. Particular attention is paid to changes after World War II, including the growing importance of international law, the democratization of Western societies, and the advent of weapons of mass destruction. These factors, combined with rising living standards in developed countries, contributed to the delegitimization of war as a political tool and gave rise to “post-heroic” societies, where individual life is valued above collectivist ideals.At the same time, the nuclear deterrence era fostered the development of proxy conflicts, actively involving non-state actors. Using the example of the war in Afghanistan (2001–2021), the author highlights key features of modern warfare: the blurring of boundaries between civilian and military targets, the difficulty of achieving decisive victories, and the growing ethical responsibility for the consequences of military operations. The article identifies challenges posed by contemporary wars to the international community, including infrastructure destruction, regional destabilization, and mass migration.The author raises the issue of states’ moral responsibility for the fate of civilians caught in conflicts, criticizing the cynical approach that reduces war to minimizing strategic risks while ignoring its humanitarian dimensions. The author concludes by emphasizing that modern conflicts rarely end traditionally with the signing of peace treaties, as irregular forces often seek to prolong wars for profit, while conventional political actors find it impossible to resolve conflicts solely on the battlefield.