Since the last decades of the twentieth century cultural turn affected the studies of the phenomenon of war. However, still a significant majority of the studies focusing on the need to take account of cultural factors in the analysis of war is produced not in the field of cultural studies, but by the Western military and strategic analysts. Considering this gap, the article shows how cultural studies can make an important contribution towards the understanding of war as a cultural phenomenon. In this perspective war is perceived as a clash of various social ideals, visions of the post-war order, symbols or values that are worth fighting and dying for. As the practical application of theoretical concepts and ideas authors of the article propose the study of the civil war in the Republic of Tajikistan (1992-1997).