The struggle for Chechnya has come to international prominence in recent years through a string of high-profile atrocities such as the hostage seizures at Beslan and the Dubrovka theatre IN Moscow. For the first time, Western, Russian and Chechen perspectives on the conflict are brought together in a single, authoritative new volume, in which leading experts from all sides of the crisis provide a unique insight into its causes and contexts.

‘Chechnya: from Past to Future’ creates a historical framework against which the most pressing issues raised by the Chechen struggle are considered, including the rights and wrongs of Chechen secessionism, the role of Islamic and Western international agencies in defending human rights, the conduct of the war, changing perceptions of the war against the backdrop of international terrorism, democracy in Chechnya itself and the uncertain fate of democracy in Russia as a whole.

Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent. His current research interests focus on problems of democratic development in Russia, the nature of postcommunism, and the global challenges facing the former communist countries. His many books include ‘Putin: Russia’s Choice’ (Routledge, 2004), ‘Russian Politics and Society’ (Routledge, 2002) and ‘The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union’ (Routledge, 1999).

Acknowledgements; Notes on the Contributors; Map 1: Chechnya; Map 2: The Caucasus Region; 1. Introduction: Why Chechnya?, 2. Chechnya in Russia and Russia in Chechnya; 3. Chechnya and Tatarstan: Differences in Search of an Explanation ; 4. The Chechen War in the Context of Contemporary Russian Politics; 5. A Multitude of Evils: Mythology and Political Failure in Chechnya; 6. Chechnya and the Russian Military: A War Too Far?; 7. The Chechen Wars and the Struggle for Human Rights; 8. Dynamics of a Society at War: Ethnographical Aspects; 9. Chechnya: The Breaking Point; 10. Globalisation, ‘New Wars’, and the War in Chechnya; 11. Western Views of the Chechen Conflict; 12. A War by Any Other Name: Chechnya, 11 September and the War Against Terrorism; 13. The Peace Process in Chechnya; Afterword; Appendix 1: The Khasavyurt Peace Agreement; Appendix 2: Treaty on Peace and the Principles of Mutual Relations Between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria; Further Reading; Index

‘A set of well-written articles… highly recommended.’ —’Choice Magazine’

‘An outstanding, engaging contribution to our knowledge of Chechnya and the Chechen conflict.’ —’The Slavonic and East European Review’

‘A worthwhile read for those interested in understanding the tragic violence that has gripped the erstwhile breakaway republic…the informative and diverse voices certainly contribute to the volume’s intellectual richness.’ —’The Russian Review’