The identity war

Abstract: Freud considered the death drive as the intrapsychic cause of wars, but usually, a non-aggression pact exists between humans. The evolution of civilization further limits the violence that can hurt. Concerning the Ukrainian war, it takes place between two countries from the Slavic brotherhood: one, Ukraine wants to adopt Western values, the other, Russia aspires to the glory of the former USSR. The fraternal relationship suggests Orwell’s “Big Brother”. Freud’s concept of “narcissism of small differences” between neighboring countries could help to understand this conflict. It is a difference of collective identity, defined by Erik Erikson, and allowing to interpret this war like an identity conflict. As the Russian Army often attacks civilian populations, there is also a ‘war of terror’, forcing the acceptance of Russian identity. But instead, the Ukrainian population is fighting it. Losing one’s identity can generate terror, like in psychopathology – there is a strong relationship between psychosis and identity confusion (Erikson), especially in schizophrenia. In short, the Ukrainian population is trying to fight external terror so that it does not take over its psyche. In this way, the Ukrainian identity is preserved despite the war.