The Nomenclature of War and Genocide : the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Objectives: An analysis of the nomenclature of war regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Methods: The research methods include a historical analysis of the naming of wars, specifically the term “World War III,” and documentation of the current political and military situation. Results: The article answers three research questions: 1) How and why are wars named? 2) What is meant by the phrase “World War III”? 3) Is the Russo-Ukrainian War of 2022 a global conflict? 4) What are the ramifications of the conflict in terms of human rights (genocide) and the international system (political and economic)? Conclusions: The Russo-Ukrainian War of 2022 is not a regional act of aggression by a Russian belligerent state, but the escalation of imperialist aspirations into a global and genocidal conflict. This is a renewed Cold War that ought to be framed as World War III both in regards to collective numeration as well as a recognition of the global nature and potential regarding the use of tactical nuclear weapons.