Russia's Internal Abroad

The North Caucasus as an Emergency Zone at the Edge of Europe

SWP Research Papers cover

The North Caucasus with its seven Russian Federation republics has witnessed an alarming increase in the number of acts of terrorism in the region as well as military conflicts between state security bodies and armed resistance groups. This development extends beyond the borders of the former war zone in Chechnya, which has long dominated reporting on the North. Russian politicians emphasize socio-economic and political causes for the violence and have increasingly stressed the importance of reforms rather than solely relying on "clampdowns". Will such new approaches in Russia's Caucasus strategy stand up against the security policy challenges coming from the region?

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