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Chechnya: The Case for Independence

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Chechnya: The Case for Independence is a cogent and compelling call to internationalists and democrats to implore Moscow to recognize it as a sovereign nation. Wood's text is written in a clear fashion that is accessible to a non-legal audience. The history of Chechnya is laid out in the first two chapters that serve as an excellent primer on the history of a region that struggled against imperial domination from the Romanovs through the Soviets. This history clearly demonstrates that the Chechens had an equal claim to independence as other former states that were subsequently recognized after the implosion of the USSR. The remainder of the text dissects the reimposition of Russian forces into Chechnya during the devastating war of 1994-6 under the Yeltsin regime that resulted in a truce between the independence movement and the Russian army as well as a de facto recognition of Chechen sovereignty. Yet, scarcely four years later as Putin sought to put the finishing touches on replacing Yeltsin, the Russian army again launched an invasion leveling most of the capital city of Grozny and further exacerbating the economic, social and political strife. Despite the occupation and the declining material conditions of the population, the international "community" and Western governments have put little or no pressure on Putin's government to even enter into talks. In the period after 11 September 2001, governments and large ngos have refused to condemn the ongoing quagmire of Russian violations for fear of being weak on "terrorism". Wood convincingly demonstrates this argument places the carriage well in front of the horse. As with most occupations by foreign powers, a self-fulfilling prophecy arises: independence leaders and resistance fighters are painted as "terrorists" by the invaders and occupiers. When pitched field battles cannot be won, the freedom fighters take up strategies employed from their own national champions and previous victorious leaders from George Washington to Vo Nguyen Giap. The Case for Independence also effectively undermines the argument that the Chechens are tied to al Qaida or put Islam (Sunni, or some form of Sufism: Salifism, Naqshbandiyya, Qadiris) before nationalism. Finally, besides the powerful arguments for sovereignty alone, the monograph makes a good case for the fact that it would benefit Russia and the region, if Chechnya was allowed independence because it would reduce tensions in the geo-political region, it would allow for the return of 60,000 Russian soldiers (mostly poor young men who have been ill-trained and subsequently corrupted, maimed or killed in action), and stabilize the flow of oil. Wood has produced a potent intervention into a stale and woefully neglected debate that has been silenced in Russia by threat and assassination. Whether one agrees with the author or not, it is a fire that cannot be ignored for much longer.

The strongest aspect of Wood's wonderfully constructed work is the exhaustive historical background of the social and political development of modern Chechnya. Rather than simply present the ins and outs of the current political climate, Wood's examination of the issue includes an informative history of the area and and its inhabitants. This book provides a wonderful introduction to the area which seamlessly blends into a carefully constructed and reasoned argument.

I've read a considerable amount about the Chechen people and their struggles for independence and this book is one of the best. It gives a great overview of the Chechen cultural mindset and the causes leading to the violent reactions Caucasians and Russians so aften have towards each other. I feel like this is an important book for anyone to read who has any interest in human rights and to some extent foreign policy. Reading this book always makes me slightly angry that atrocities like this occur all of the time largely with the backing of my own government. It's more appropriete than ever to think about the message of this book on a global scale. We are all responsible for the actions or inaction as it may be, of our government and we are all ultimately responsible for each other. We are after all living in a global society.

an excellent book about a country(Chechnya)and two wars most people have never even heard of. The book gives an argument for the Chechen Peoples right to independence, highlighting Russia's atrocities.

In fact, Tony Wood is an example of typical humanitarian imperialist who asks Western imperialist states for more intervention into policy of a sovereign state helping to form a pro-intervention public opinion. While secret services and foundations of USA, UK and Saudi Arabia supported Chechenian feudal terrorist gangs with their money and other kinds of assistance, British Trotskyists united with their ruling classes in their struggle against the resurgence of Russian independence after break-up of the Soviet Union. This is what Kola Odetola called "imperialism's left boot". This position has nothing to do with Marxism and struggles for the social liberation.