The Belligerent Bear: Russia, Status Orders, and War

Summary

Do states gain social status by fighting wars? It depends on the type of “status order,” or social club, that interprets their belligerence. Social clubs may either value or stigmatize war-making. After Russia annexed Crimea and invaded eastern Ukraine in 2014, it was increasingly recognized as a great power within U.S. public discourse. In contrast, Russia’s belligerence diminished its status within the G-8 and had little effect on its status in the UN Security Council.