Framing Crime and Punishment in Times of War: A Comparative Analysis of Media and Legal Responses to Domestic Violence in the Soviet-Afghan, Chechen, and Ukrainian Conflicts

• In Event: Intersections of War, Science, and Legal Frameworks: Shaping Crime, Violence and Justice Across Historical and Geographical Contexts

Abstract

How do societies understand crime and punishment during times of war? This research explores how issues of family violence and criminal prosecution have been framed in the media during three major conflicts: the Soviet-Afghan War, the Chechen Wars, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Through a comparative historical analysis, I examine how attitudes toward crime, particularly domestic violence, shift during military conflict and the political motivations behind these changes. Wartime often alters societal norms regarding violence, both on the battlefield and at home. In Afghanistan, the conflict was framed around foreign aggression, influencing how violence was perceived. In Chechnya, war was justified as a defense of state integrity, shaping legal and social narratives around crime. Today, the war in Ukraine introduces the concept of "cultural heroization" of violence, where combatants are portrayed as untouchable figures, affecting how legal institutions treat criminal behavior, including family violence. This research investigates how Russian media has historically framed domestic violence during military conflicts and how legal responses have evolved. Have wartime conditions led to the normalization of violence in family settings? How do legal systems accommodate or ignore such shifts? Ultimately, I consider the post-war implications—how societies cope with the lingering effects of wartime violence and whether legal and social systems adjust to re-establish norms. By analyzing media discourse, legal policies, and historical patterns, this study sheds light on the complex relationship between war, crime, and societal attitudes toward violence.

Author

• Yuliya Brin, U of Helsinki (Finland)