The Russo-Chechen conflict has been the bloodiest war in Europe since the Second World War. It continues to drag on, despite the fact that it hits the headlines only when there is some 'terrorist spectacular'.
Providing a comprehensive overview of the war and the issues connected with it, the author examines the origins of the conflict historically and traces how both sides were dragged inexorably into war in the early 1990s. The book discusses the two wars (1994-96 and 1999 to date), the intervening truce and shows how a downward spiral of violence has led to a mutually-damaging impasse from which neither side has been able to remove itself. It applies theories of conflict, especially theories of terrorism and counter-terrorism and concludes by proposing some alternative resolutions that might lead to a just and lasting peace in the region.
Author(s): John Russell
Series: BASEES/Routledge Series on Russian and East European Studies
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 272
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 6
Copyright......Page 7
Dedication......Page 8
Contents......Page 10
Preface......Page 11
Acknowledgements......Page 15
Abbreviations......Page 17
Glossary of Chechen and Russian terms......Page 18
1 Introduction......Page 22
2 The roots of violence in the Russo-Chechen conflict: Identifying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle......Page 31
3 A tragic history: Unresolved contradictions in the Russo-Chechen relationship......Page 50
4 Of wolves and werewolves: Demonisation in the Russo-Chechen confrontation......Page 74
5 Wars by any other name: Yeltsin’s ‘restoration of constitutional order’ and Putin’s ‘counter-terrorist operation’......Page 90
6 9/11, Chechnya and the war on terror......Page 110
7 Entrepreneurs of violence......Page 131
8 The paths not taken: The Russian failure to reach a political solution in Chechnya......Page 152
9 The international dimension......Page 170
10 Conclusion......Page 189
Notes......Page 196
Select bibliography......Page 241
Index......Page 258
