The Chechen struggle against Russian domination, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the increasing importance of the region's oil reserves provide the background to both Chechen Wars. This book assesses how the wars have torn apart the fabric of Chechen society and their impact on Russia itself, where they have influenced presidential elections and widened the gulf between the military and the rest of society. Within Russia, the Chechen Wars represent the death struggle of the Soviet military system and will determine Russia's ability to develop as a democratic nation. The author examines these aspects of the wars from a social, political, tactical and cultural perspective.
