The Impact of Total War on State Institutions
Philosopher Serhiy Datsiuk examines how total war reshapes state institutions, detailing the mechanisms of this influence and the stages of transition from politics to warfare. His analysis outlines three distinct phases in this process and underscores the particular danger of the state being transformed into a mere instrument of war. This framework is especially relevant for understanding prolonged modern conflicts where the lines between governance and military engagement blur.
The Three Phases from Politics to War
According to Datsiuk, the initial phase is an attempt to prolong peace, where society strives to maintain pre-war policies and daily life. This is inevitably followed by a second phase—the dictatorship of war—where political decisions become subordinated to the exigencies of the conflict.
Serhiy Datsiuk notes that
“As Oleksiy Arestovych says, war is the senior suit. It begins to alter everyday life, motivations, goals, interests, and relationships. And, of course, by affecting people and groups in this way, it changes politics itself.”
This indicates that war's influence extends beyond external factors to transform the very essence of political relations.
The final, third phase, the philosopher states, occurs when politics becomes a tool of war.
“There is an even deeper level. This is when war consumes the state. When the state ceases to be a subject and becomes an instrument of war. The state begins to concern itself only with servicing the war.”In this context, he observes that the state, as an institution for managing civilian life, gradually atrophies, and “the nature of the relationship between the state and the citizen” changes. The citizen ceases to be a subject of rights, transforming instead into an object of mobilization and a resource for the war effort.
Datsiuk argues that this metamorphosis of the state is the most critical process occurring during total war. Consequently, his analysis highlights not only socio-political but also profound philosophical shifts within a society at war.
Serhiy Datsiuk's analysis provides crucial insights into the dynamic between the state and society during wartime. In an era where conflicts can become protracted, understanding these phases is vital for grasping how political structures and social consciousness are eroded. Such understanding is a prerequisite for developing effective strategies to rebuild state institutions and safeguard citizens' rights in any post-conflict period.