The "Chechen Problem"—-how the Chechen conflicts have shaped Russian domestic and foreign security perspectives
Kaplun, Michelle
A resurgent Russia and the threat of extremist ideology are two major topics currently facing the
international community. For Russia, both issues have arisen simultaneously within the Russian
republic of Chechnya. While the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered calls for
independence among various groups in Russia, the case of the Chechen Republic can reveal
unique characteristics of Russia’s perspective on its domestic and international security position.
This thesis aims to emphasize the importance of the impact of the Chechen Wars on the
evolution of Russia’s security perspective. I will show that Russia’s experiences with Chechnya
in the First and Second Chechen Wars have influenced its attitudes towards security on both a
domestic and international scale. My thesis will add to the discussion on Russia’s security
evolution by bringing the case of Chechnya as an additional element to be used in the analysis of
Russia’s perspective of itself, thereby adding to scholarship on the shaping of modern Russia.
The following thesis, broken up into four sections, will discuss the lessons learned by Russia
throughout the Chechen Wars. It will also analyze the ways in which the lessons from Chechnya
have been applied to specific events, or to the trajectory of Russia more generally, both
domestically and internationally. Throughout, I argue that Russia’s experiences with Chechnya
have played a key role in shaping Russia’s current security mentality. While the lessons learned
from Chechnya are the basis of my argument, I include circumstantial points that reference
Russia’s vulnerability as a new nation, as well as the rise of Vladimir Putin. As a result, I will
also challenge current scholarship that has downplayed Chechnya as a central component in the
development of Russia’s modern security strategy. As a disclaimer, my paper does not seek to
address all components of Russian security perspectives, strategy, or of the Chechen conflicts.
Rather, it offers a unique lens upon which to view Russian perspectives on domestic and foreign
security. In attempts to construct a concise argument, not all of the necessary elements of the
Chechen conflict or its impact can be addressed. However, the essence of my thesis paper will be
to argue that, by better understanding Chechnya’s history with Russia, it is possible to better
understand Russia.
Honors thesis. B.A. in International Relations, Spring 2021, Boston University.
↧