How formal equality reproduces hierarchy: the role of international law in Russian imperialism

What role does international law play in Russian imperialism? Several scholarly works have demonstrated that Russia’s position in the world order is defined both by its marginal status among other Great Powers and by its exceptional approach toward the post-Soviet states. Drawing on genealogical approaches, this article adds to these works by showing how international law enables Russia to maintain this dual position in the world order. It argues that the paradox inherent to international legalism – promising equality yet reproducing hierarchy – enables Russia to adopt a dual strategy. On one hand, it invokes a post-colonial narrative to critique Western violations of international law; on the other, it leverages the colonial foundations of the international legal system to assert dominance over other polities. Through an examination of Russia’s legal justifications for the use of force in Syria and Ukraine, the article contends that contemporary Russia’s legalistic imperialism seeks to construct a sense of equivalence with its imperial competitors. Yet these efforts are constrained by Russia’s marginal position in the current rivalry between the US and China, as well as its normative dependence on the very same system it criticizes. The paper therefore adds to various literatures on Russia’s role in international affairs.