Europe-Asia Studies, September 2007

Cerwyn Moore, Nottingham Trent University

CHECHNYA: THE CASE FOR INDEPENDENCE IS A USEFUL ADDITION to the range of books on the Russo – Chechen conflicts of the 1990s. The book itself is split into eight chapters charting the course of Chechen relations with Russia, and examining some of the key themes which have shaped the most recent episodes of conflict. As the subtitle of the book suggests, the central theme which runs throughout the book is an argument about the Chechen claim for independence.

Chapter One charts the Chechen experience, detailing the historical backdrop which shapes contemporary Russo – Chechen relations. Chapter Two turns to explore the claim for independence, drawing on both legal and historical analyses. From Chapter Three the book turns to more contemporary themes, focusing on the first war of the 1990s entitled ‘Yeltsin’s Vietnam’. Thereafter, the chapters titled ‘Ichkeria’ and ‘Putin’sWar’ examine the period between the two wars (1996 – 99), and the second Russo – Chechen War. The final three chapters of the book explore the uses of Islam, the events in, and implications of, Beslan, before concluding with a brief overview of the case for independence in the final chapter entitled ‘An Invisible Catastrophe’.

Two particular areas of interest, indeed points of contestation, are worth mentioning in a little more detail here. The first relates to the basic assumption of the book, the claim for independence. Evidently, the claim is contested, and may be read in different ways, from different disciplines. This is, in part, one of the many strengths of the book, using the differing dimensions of the claim for independence as an anchor, to set up thought-provoking analysis. That is to say, Wood argues that the first war was connected to the transformation of Russia, under the rule of Yel’tsin, as a post-totalitarian state, before exploring the second conflict as part of the emerging Russian autocracy under the leadership of Vladimir Putin. In this way, Wood points towards the various power struggles, oligarchs and siloviki. Wood skilfully alternates between different readings of Chechnya, although his conclusions seem to avoid asking questions about non-Western readings of self-determination. In effect, this leaves unresolved the issue of whether we are able to read the experience of former Soviet regions through the lens of Western liberal theory.

Thus, he clearly understands many of the different forces shaping the current situation in the region, and this goes some way to establishing a claim for independence. To some extent then, I agree with the premises put forward, and see this as an intriguing contribution to the ongoing debate, in an abstract sense. But the notion of Chechnya as a ‘failed state’ is questionable, as is the reading of independence, if one is to unmask the roots of these themes. Accordingly, the claim for independence is well made, but lacks a fully acknowledged engagement regarding the social, ethnographical and cultural forces which have shaped post-Soviet life in the North Caucasus. Nevertheless, how the book balances questions about independence and the human rights abuses makes for fascinating reading.

Equally, the second point, which is articulated well, and with which I fully agree, relates to the role of foreign influence. Whilst it is clear that a number of commentators, especially those who are not experts on the region, have sought to make a claim about radicalisation, or the role of Wahhabism, this claim betrays a misreading of Chechnya, and indeed, of the role of particular foreign fighters. The evidence presented here indicates how Sheikh Fathi invited Khattab to the region, demonstrating how Khattab was then sheltered by Basayev. More interestingly, as Wood notes; the ‘Chechen resistance is first of all Chechen, with Islam as a component of that identity’ (p. 145). Similarly, further work is needed to explore the rigidity of Sufism, and the exact role of the diaspora communities in shaping resistance, which the author points towards but does not examine in detail.

The role of Salafism, as I have argued elsewhere, is presented in a way that offers a far more nuanced reading of the role of foreign influence, suggesting, although not shedding light on, the role of ideologues, financiers and fighters such as Abu Omar al-Saif, Abu Walid or Abu Hafs al-Urdani. Albeit in different ways, Wood indicates how Central Asian social networks, and specifically the Chechen communities in Kazakhstan, Turkey and Jordan, alongside the war in Tajikistan, played their part in shaping the first and second wars. In this way then, the book does much to dispel a number of myths associated with mistakenly directed commentaries that claim to analyse political violence, and Western readings of Wahhabism, within Chechnya, whilst simultaneously building a case for independence.

Moreover, while the book is a useful contribution to existing academic work, a more detailed examination of the impact of patrimonial politics in Chechnya, the role of military jamaats, the ongoing impact of figures such as Movladi Udugov, and, perhaps, a more detailed exploration of the impact of Chechen on Chechen violence would be welcomed. All of these points are touched upon but not fully elaborated. Nevertheless, the integration of existing work on Chechnya is useful, especially weaving together the scholarly work of Georgi Derlugian, Anna Zelkina, Galina Yemelianova, Moshe Gammer, James Hughes and Marie Bennigsen. Of course, there is room for improvement here, by recognising and dealing with other specialists who have explored some of the issues touched upon, for instance, in the work of John Russell or Julie Wilhelmsen. In sum, the book is well written, making a legal, moral and political argument for Chechen independence. The analysis is productive, with each foray passionately argued and thoroughly researched. But, the latter chapters of the book are not only interesting, they are important insofar as they offer a reading of the contemporary situation in Chechnya, from a human rights standpoint.

© Cerwyn Moore 2007