Empires eventually end amid blood and dishonour

The academic Dominic Lieven argues that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a case in point

A worker sets a cross on a grave at a cemetery in Irpin, Ukraine. PHOTO: AFP
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Empires are great powers.

Their demise is usually accompanied by geopolitical convulsions and wars. They are also multinational polities with peoples living cheek by jowl. Turning an empire into nation states with sharply defined sovereign peoples and borders seldom comes without great conflict. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a case in point.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.