The Chechen Wars - Will Russia Go the Way of the Soviet Union?

Informationen zum Autor By Matthew Evangelista Klappentext "Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin improvised a system of ""asymmetric federalism"" to help maintain its successor state, the Russian Federation. However, when sparks of independence flared up in Chechnya, Yeltsin and, later, Vladimir Putin chose military action to deal with a ""brushfire"" that they feared would spread to other regions and eventually destroy the federation. Matthew Evangelista examines the causes of the Chechen Wars of 1994 and 1999 and challenges Moscow's claims that the Russian Federation was too fragile to withstand the potential loss of one rebellious republic. He suggests that the danger for Russia lies less in a Soviet-style disintegration than in a misguided attempt at authoritarian recentralization, something that would jeopardize Russia's fledgling democratic institutions. He also contends that well-documented acts of terrorism by some Chechen fighters should not serve as an excuse for Russia to commit war crimes and atrocities. Evangelista urges emerging democracies like Russia to deal with violent internal conflict and terrorism without undermining the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens. He recommends that the United States and other democracies be more attentive to Moscow's violations of human rights and, in their own struggle against terrorism, provide a kind of role model." Zusammenfassung Following the breakup of the Soviet Union! Boris Yeltsin improvised a system of ""asymmetric federalism"" to help maintain its successor state! the Russian Federation.

About the author

Matthew Evangelista

Product details

• Authors: Matthew Evangelista, Matthew (Professor of Government and Director of the Peace Studies Program Evangelista
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2003
• EAN: 9780815724995
• ISBN: 978-0-8157-2499-5
• No. of pages: 352
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 222 mm x 19 mm
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000, Russia, European History, HISTORY / Military / General, HISTORY / Europe / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / General, International Relations, Later 20th century c 1950 to c 1999, c 1990 to c 2000, c 1990 to c 1999, War and defence operations, War & defence operations, Chechnya, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / Russian & Soviet, HISTORY / Russia / Post-Soviet