Law and Justice in the Discussion of Military Conflicts in Russian Secondary School World History Textbooks

Abstract

The paper analyzes the treatment of military conflicts and their legal resolution in current Russian history textbooks for secondary school (grades 5-9), particularly in regard to shaping the students' notions of “just war”, “just peace” as well as the legitimacy of making certain decisions in the international relations sphere. The conducted analysis allows us to claim that Russian secondary school world history textbooks only touch upon the issues of justice and law. The textbooks are critical of military ways of resolving international conflicts, and declare the importance and the fundamental possibility of diplomatic solutions. They really shape the concept of a just war, but the legal evaluation of the opposing parties' actions is practically inexistent.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6p84