Abstract This paper looks at the conflict between Russia and Chechnya and traces its origins and development over the years. It looks at the reasons for the war from both sides, focusing on the Russian rationale and their theories of why the war is necessary and why they must win.
From the Paper "To understand the current conflict between Russia and Chechnya and Russia's rationale for the war it is necessary to look at the history of the region first to get an understanding of how the conflict arose. The Chechno-Ingushes are people of the Caucasus ..."
This paper discusses the on-going generational warfare for Chechnya and how the presence of Islamic fundamentalist terrorists makes the political state of Chechnya more volatile than that of other bordering Russian republics.
Abstract This paper explains that the small nation of Chechnya has demonstrated its inability to achieve an orderly government and, instead, has been a revolutionary and destabilizing influence in other republics throughout the region. The author points out that the military, Islamic fundamentalists, which have ties to Al-Qaeda, have little desire to balance their goals with the goals of other tribes that have lived in the area for centuries. The author feels Moscow should keep Chechnya under its 'iron boot' until the people decide that the time has come to exercise self-restraint and learn to govern themselves.
From the Paper "During the next 6 or 7 decades, the control of Chechnya changed hands a number of times, until the ascension of the Soviet Union to between the world wars. At different periods during these 7 years, the state's citizens were forced onto collective farms and Russia made efforts to restrict their religious practices. The Chechens suffered under these policies and fought fiercely for their beliefs, and their cultural heritage. Just before WWII, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin accused the Chechen's of collaboration with the Nazis and deported them (again) to Central Asia. The republic was abolished and was not restored until 957, when its former inhabitants were allowed to return from exile."
Abstract The writer argues that Chechnya is just one example of the fact that the old Soviet Union was never truly unified and instead kept the various provinces in line through sheer force. The paper looks at the history of the fall of the Soviet Union and the opportunity this gave the tiny Chechnya to fight for independence. The paper then gives details of the war and the ways in which the Chechyns have found success.
From the Paper "Chechnya is about the size of Connecticut, with a population of 1.3 million people, making up less than one percent of the population of the Russian Federation from which it set out to secede. The war that stated there was seen from the firs as having the chance to deal a blow to the endangered and incipient democratic reforms in Russia (Church 116). Indeed, the debacle in Chechnya did cause a shift in the way other republics viewed Russia. In 1996 and 1997, most of the 89 regional governments in the Russian Federation held elections for governors. In the past, these positions had been filled by people appointed by Moscow, and a governor who disobeyed could be replaced by someone more obedient. Now, many of the regions elected governors who were independent-minded, and less than half of Moscow's hand-picked candidates won the 1996 elections. These new governors no longer fear Russia's military power precisely because Chechnya's small guerrilla army handed Russia such a humiliating defeat. This now means that he only power Moscow has left is that it controls the purse strings. This is problematic as well given that Russia's national treasury is nearly empty and that Moscow has been forced to cut its flow of money to the regions, further weakening the central government's control over the regions ("Russia--Republics")."
Tags: war, Soviet, Union, independence, Moscow, guerilla
Abstract This paper gives background information on the ethnic conflict that has existed for centuries in both Yugoslavia and Chechnya and then looks at how that ethnic conflict has affected each region. The paper compares the different reasons behind the conflicts in each region, the severity of the conflicts, and their political consequences.
From the Paper "Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, conflict in Eastern Europe has been grounded largely in ethnic, rather than political, differences. Two key examples are the wars and subsequent atrocities in Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2000 and the war between Russia and Chechnya of 1994-1996. In both cases discrimination, whether perceived or actual, solidified ethnic identity and led to violent conflict, a sovereign ethnic state being the goal."
Abstract The paper evaluates a number of key perspectives regarding the Chechnya separatist movement, which was facilitated by a desire of this location to maintain its independence from Russia. The paper explains that this was complicated by a number of fierce battles and wars which continue to haunt these nations. The paper notes that the increased threat of terrorism also plays a role in this process.
From the Paper "The Russian movements that have occurred throughout history have created numerous challenges for many nations around the world. In particular, Chechnya, which was invaded by Russia in earlier centuries and was forced to succumb to Russian rule, has in recent decades experienced some of its fiercest battles in its colorful history. The evolution of these battles has created considerable consequences for the citizens of Chechnya, which had broken away from Russian rule many years before (Olike, 2001). Through recent violent and deadly battles between Russia and Chechnya, there have been considerable consequences to pay on both sides of the battle lines (Oliker, 2001). However, Chechnya has suffered many great losses in its attempts to remain independent and furthermore, there has been considerable efforts to promote peace and an understanding of the violent nature of battle in the process (Oliker, 2001)."
Abstract This paper reviews Thomas De Waal's and Carlotta Gall's "Chechnya, Calamity in the Caucasus", John Dunlop's "Russia Confronts Chechnya: Roots of a Separatist Conflict", Stasys Knezys' and Romanas Sedlickas' "The War in Chechnya", and Anatol Lieven's "Chechnya: Tombstone of Russian Power". The review synthesizes the main theme of the demise of Russian nationalism.
Abstract This paper discusses and analyzes the topic of Chechnya. Specifically, it discusses the Chechen conflict with Russia, including how it started and when, along with the causes, effects, main events and attacks, and a current perspective on events in Chechnya today. It discusses how Chechnya has always desired independence from Russia and continues to fight for its freedom today. The tiny country has not been able to shed Russian influence and government, but it has evolved into a world political crisis that has affected thousands of Chechen civilians and continues to cause strife and violence today.
From the Paper "Chechnya is a Soviet Republic that declared independence from Russia in 1991. However, Russia's leaders refused to acknowledge Chechnya's independence, and instead sent in troops to subdue the Chechens. They withdrew when they met armed Chechens ready to defend their country, but the current conflict had its beginnings in these events in 1991, which escalated to full-scale war by 1994. However, the roots of the problems between Chechnya and Russia go much, much deeper than the current crisis."
Abstract This paper looks at the background to U.S. involvement in the war and analyzes various factors. These include the high fatality rate incurred in the war, international reaction of the world community to the conflict, the strategic importance of Chechnya to the Russians, the politics of oil as it relates to the war and a history of U.S. policy towards Russia. The paper also focuses on the current U.S. policy towards Russia and specifically towards Chechnya.
From the Paper "At the start of the second Russian invasion into Chechnya in 1999, Russia claimed that it was going into Chechnya in order to root out the bandits that were hiding in the Chechen mountains and bring them to justice for carrying out terrorist activities in Russia. In the long run however, it has become clear that Russia was planning to take vengeance for its humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chechen rebels in the previous phase of its attack on Chechnya three years back.(11) Russia has presented its attack on Chechnya as an attack on terrorists and as an effort to prevent Chechnya from breaking away from the federation. The fighting that is taking place is the worse since the 1994 ?1996 civil war with Chechnya ."
Abstract This paper discusses the fight against terrorism that might serve as a rallying point to bring the United States and Russia together on a policy of prevention, but there are other geopolitical realities that work to keep the two sides, if not at odds, at least away from complete unification. The paper explains that both countries face certain threats, though not always from the same source. The paper contends that, even when they are from the same source in the Middle East, the degree of the threat and the specific security needs of each country differ. The paper claims that the entrenched intelligence establishments in both countries date back to the Cold War era and remain wary of one another, which translates into continuing tensions over policies related to the terror threat and some suspicion of the motives of the other side. The paper assesses that the terrorist threat from the Middle East tends to be more global, while the threat from Chechnya tends to be directed only at Russia and remnants of the old Soviet Union.
Outline
Introduction
The Cold War and After
Terrorism in Russia
Chechnya Response to Terrorism
Russian Foreign Policy
The Middle East
Intelligence
Conclusion
From the Paper "Terrorism is not a new phenomenon, though it has become more prevalent in parts of the world where formerly it was rare. Terrorism has been used most frequently in recent years in Israel and other parts of the Middle East and in Africa, but terrorism is a widespread problem where any disaffected group that believes it can gain attention only through violence kills innocent civilians and destroys property to gain that attention. With the attacks on the World Trade Center, first in 1993 and then in 2001 on 9-11, concern about terrorism in the West increased greatly, especially in the United States, Russia has lived as a target of terrorism for much longer, primarily from Chechen rebels who want to publicize their demands. Relations between the United States and the former Soviet Union were only beginning under a new pattern when the threat of terrorism became an issue dividing the two countries over their respective approaches to foreign policy, including how they define terrorism, how they respond to terrorism, the degree to which they do or do not consider international organizations like the UN, and how they view and respond to one another in these difficult times."
Abstract Two great examples of far-reaching human rights violations that have been studied extensively are the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany, as well as the violations in Chechnya. These two major human rights violations have been viewed quite often throughout the international community. There have been many hours of investigation put into finding and understanding the origins, dimensions, and outcomes of both of these ruthless acts of violence. By comparing the two, this paper provides insight into how these violations first began and all the dimensions associated with the two. It also provides insight into how the human rights movement began and how it has looked to solve these problems.
From the Paper "The combat between federal forces and Chechen rebels has for the most part ceased over the last few years yet the disappearances, torture, and summary execution of detainees continue. The type of fighting has changed from the classical war and has turned into a "dirty war, where human rights violations and not the conquest or defense of territory are the main goals" (Denber). Criminal investigations into disappearances have been very ineffective and poorly enforced and innocent people continue being severely tortured and killed, and the perpetrators easily get away with it."
Tags: United, Nations, WWII, Hitler, Soviet, rebel
Abstract This paper researches the interactions and wars in between Russia and Chechnya as well as the oppression perpetrated against and upon the Chechen people. It argues that the Chechen people are a nation that loves peace and equality as well as valuing their cultural heritage and not at all the war-mongering nation that Russia would have the world to believe.
From the Paper "The Russian rule of the Chechen people has seemingly brought the people of Chechnya to their knees however one must question the true validity of Russian rule in a land where a people have never accepted that rule but continued to war against the same. During the year of 1923 the Republic experienced a three-way split into the regions of Dagastan, Chechnya and Ingushetia. After a period of time Chechnya and Ingushetia united as a Chechyan-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. The Chechen-Ingush were particularly difficult for the Russians because they lived upon a mountain range that bordered Dagestan that was all but inaccessible. Many histories state that the Chechnya and Ingush were a warring people and use that as justification for what Russian rule has wrought upon the Chenchen people."
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the Russo-Chechen conflict. In this study, the writer shows that the conflict reveals a troubling trend of violence and oppression that is difficult to disentangle. The writer discusses that in the greater War on Terror, the way in which this dilemma is approached --and others like it-- will in many ways determine our collective fates.
From the Paper "The conflict between Russian and her former Soviet satellite Chechnya has exacerbated in recent years, threatening to become the full scale civil conflict that many on both sides have anticipated-and some have longed for. Chechnya is a Muslim republic with a history of doggedly pursuing independence. For its part Russia has crafted its own legacy toward Chechnya as a single-minded suppressor, whose response to Chechen bids for autonomy is consistently brutal. Today the Russo-Chechen conflict has claimed roughly ... "
Abstract This paper discusses the conflict between the Russian federal forces and the secessionist North Caucasian republic of Chechnya. The author explains that while the Chechen problem is usually seen as a primarily modern phenomenon the sources and root causes of this conflict have their origins in history even prior to the last century. The paper discusses the history, causes, and source of the conflict and concludes that it is an ongoing problem and that, while the foundational causes are important to consider, there are possibly more contemporary reasons and agendas that have become a part of this crisis.
From the Paper " Chechnya declared independence from the Soviet Union in November 1991. (Q&A: The Chechen conflict) The then Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, seen troops into the area to reinstate the rule of Russian federal law and to stop secession. In essence, the conflict of is the fight for national independence and the attempt to separate from the Soviet Union.
"Chechnya is traditional homeland of the Chechen people and is bordered by Georgia to the south. The population of the region is mainly Muslim and the country is surrounded by the Russian Federation republics of Ingushetia and North Ossetia to the west, Dagestan to the east and north, and the Russian province of Stavropol to the north-west. (The Conflict in Chechnya, 2000)"
Abstract This paper explains that the Russian-Chechen conflict is a direct brutal clash between the central authorities of a federal state Russia and a sub-national component Chechnya, which has been accorded the rights as per the constitution but demands to be an autonomous state or to have a non-federal relationships. The author points out that most of the Chechen combatants are extremists, who have completely lost their conscience to Islamic establishments and are probably linked to Al-Qaeda, having committed such terror acts as seizing citizens in a hospital in the southern Russian town of Budyonnovsk in 1995 and capturing a school in the North Ossetian town of Beslan in 2004, resulting in the death of more than 500 children. The paper concludes that (1) Chechnya is badly in need of a political solution since armed endeavors during the last nine years have not been fruitful, bringing the Chechen's to a more radical front and permitting the authority of Islamic fundamentalism to penetrate Caucasus and (2) the global society has to show solidarity against extremism because there is no justification, which can uphold the brutal aggression meted out by the Chechen insurgents.
Table of Contents
Describe the Conflict Situation
Define the Reasons for the Conflict
Determine Who if Anyone is at Fault and Why
Is there a Solution?
Conclusion
From the Paper "The September 11 2001 assaults by the Al Qaeda and the condition with the Moscow Theatre provided a better plea to Putin to safeguard his military activities in Chechnya. Currently, the Chechens have been member of the extremists and the battle with them is a component of the international battle on extremism. Prior to 11 Sept 2001, the global society were severe with Russia regarding the Chechen exigency, but thereafter following the assault on Moscow Theater they were inclined to be increasingly cooperative and sparing Russian activities. Gaining the notice of the Western media, the suicide bombings are a proof of Chechnya's instability and the dangers of permitting the insurgent Islamist crusade starting to gather foothold there to flourish."
Abstract In this report, the writer studies the global affects of separatism and their impact on the world today. The writer notes that the issue of separatism is one that confronts many different and diverse countries around the world today. The writer discusses that the world today is faced with many conflicts regarding separatism, which lead to often dangerous and trying times for the countries having to deal with the separatist movements. The writer examines the Quebec separatist movement in Canada, the Chechen movement within Russia and the separatist region of Kosovo within the country of Serbia. The writer maintains that in all of these cases, it becomes apparent that the countries involved in these movements are not strangers to danger and hardship in their experiences with separatism. Colored photos are included with the paper.
Outline:
Introduction
Thesis
Background Information
Quebec and Canada
Chechnya and Russia
Kosovo and Serbia
Discussion
Quebec and Canada
Chechnya and Russia
Kosovo and Serbia
Methodology
Conclusion / Summary
From the Paper "An example of a country upon whose entire history is derived from the act of separation lies just south of Canada in the U.S.A. It was in their separation from the British Empire in 1776 that a new country was born. From this the United States of America began its climb to becoming the most industrialized and powerful nation in the world. As well as being the starting point for the United States, the separatist idea continued to face the country throughout its history. This is proven when looking at the American Civil War. It was the separatist south that threatened the existence of United States, of which had to be overcome to recreate the country in 1865.
"It is in examples like this that show us that the separatist idea is one that affects humanity globally. If one were to think about all the countries in the world today that have separated from another at one point in their existence, the list would number at least 20. It has and continues to shape the world we inhabit today, affecting people in the developing world, and those living in developed nations. "
