Chechnya: From Nationalism to Jihad (National and Ethnic Conflict in the 21st Century) [Hardcover]

James Hughes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0812240138 | ISBN-13: 978-0812240139 | Publication Date: July 6, 2007

The sheer scale and brutality of the hostilities between Russia and Chechnya stand out as an exception in the mostly peaceful breakup of the Soviet Union. Chechnya: From Nationalism to Jihad provides a fascinating analysis of the transformation of secular nationalist resistance in a nominally Islamic society into a struggle that is its antithesis, jihad. Hughes locates Chechen nationalism within the wider movement for national self-determination that followed the collapse of the Soviet empire. When negotiations failed in the early 1990s, political violence was instrumentalized to consolidate opposing nationalist visions of state-building in Russia and Chechnya. The resistance in Chechnya also occurred in a regional context where Russian hegemony over the Caucasus, especially the resources of the Caspian basin, was in retreat, and in an international context of rising Islamic radicalism. Alongside Bosnia, Kashmir, and other conflicts, Chechnya became embedded in Osama Bin Laden's repertoire of jihadist rhetoric against the "West." It was not simply Russia's destruction of a nationalist option for Chechnya, or "Wahabbist" infiltration from without, that created the political space for Islamism. Rather, we must look also at how the conflict was fought. The lack of proportionality and discrimination in the use of violence, particularly by Russia, accelerated and intensified the Islamic radicalization and thereby transformed the nature of the conflict.

This nuanced and balanced study provides a much-needed antidote to the mythologizing of Chechen resistance before, and its demonization after, 9/11. The conflict in Chechnya involves one of the most contentious issues in contemporary international politics—how do we differentiate between the legitimate use of violence to resist imperialism, occupation, and misgovernment, and the use of terrorism against legitimate rule? This book sets out indispensable lessons for understanding conflicts involving the volatile combination of nationalist insurgency, jihad, and terrorism, most notably for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"James Hughes has produced the most comprehensive, thoroughly documented, and up-to-date study of the Chechen conflict available. This sophisticated and subtle analysis places Chechnya in the context of broader debates about nationalism and ethnic politics, theories of empire and secession, and the propensity of new democracies to go to war."—Matthew Evangelista, Cornell University

"Hughes offers a new way of thinking about ethnopolitical conflict by examining conflict dynamics as part of the causation chain in a conflict."—History: Reviews of New Books

"Does the book have value for the military historian? Absolutely."—Journal of Military History

"an excellent starting point for anyone looking for insight into how the radical Sunni Salafi movement
both evolved and commandeered the struggle in Chechnya, which could also serve as an example as
to how Al-Qaeda could hijack other nationalist struggles in the future."—International Affairs

"An exemplary case study. . . . Throughout, insights into the consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the reconstitution of a federated Russia, and the leadership of Vladimir Putin abound. . . . Highly recommended."—Choice

About the Author

James Hughes is Professor of Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (July 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812240138
• ISBN-13: 978-0812240139
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,569,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, an analysis of the conflict without a completely Chechen bias!, October 27, 2007

By 

J. Sokol (Houston, Tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chechnya: From Nationalism to Jihad (National and Ethnic Conflict in the 21st Century) (Hardcover)

For students of conflict analysis, this book considers a number of theories without advocating a certain bias. There are so many books about Chechnya written by journalists that end up taking sides. Although it is a little dry compared to the journalists' accounts, it is very even-handed.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellently Written and Researched, February 16, 2009

By 

Timothy J. Workman "XuzK'ant" (Tucson, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chechnya: From Nationalism to Jihad (National and Ethnic Conflict in the 21st Century) (Paperback)

Hughes avoids single factor explanations for the cause of the conflict and looks critically at the theses of the main scholars on the region who attempt to do just that. Masterfully chronicles and analyses the events surrounding the transmogrification of Chechen nationalism to give a clearer picture as to "how and why" Chechen nationalism ultimately eschewed secularism in favor of Islamism. An excellent piece of scholarship.