Terrorism in the North Caucasus: Russia's battle for stability

Abstract

This thesis aims to analyze the Russian counter-insurgency operation that was used to weaken and destroy the Chechen secessionist movement during the two conflicts in Chechnya. Was Russia's counter-insurgent strategy successful during the first and second Chechen war and if so at what cost? Could this same strategy be adopted by democratic western powers for future conflicts? This project will also look at Russia's counter-insurgent operation at different levels by closely examining the Russian tactics that were used in both Chechen wars.