Publications

CSIS Publications

Violence in the North Caucasus
Violence in Russia’s North Caucasus is on the rise.  Since January 2004, CSIS has tracked, almost daily, violent incidents occurring in the region. These reports, visual representations of the trends in violence, draw on our database. 

Reports:

 
Peace in Chechnya?
Released April 16, 2009
The Kremlin declared an end to its decade long “anti-terrorist” operation in the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya on April 16, 2009.  Is this a virtual victory or a real one? In this memo we illustrate, through our data on violent incidents, recent trends in violence in Chechnya and the region at large.
 
49 Steps to Improve Human Rights and Security in the North Caucasus
Unlike other conflicts around the world in which expertise, political will, and vast sums have been deployed to address, diminish, or contain violence, we have seen dramatically less activity surrounding Chechnya and other parts of the North Caucasus.  This report presents an abridged version of the dozens of recommendations generated by an international policy network and collaborative experts.  See the Bosch Series for more information on this process.  Also available in Russian, and French.  Released September 18, 2007. 
 
Cauldron of Terrorism or Bowl of Kasha? 
What Survey Data Say About the North Caucasus
The North Caucasus has been the site and source of increasing levels of violence, yet relatively little is known about the people who live in these regions – their poverty level, the strength of their religious affiliations, the degree of ethnic animosity.  Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber (University of Wisconsin-Madison) explore these questions through their survey, conducted by the Levada Analytical Center, of young males in the region on socio-economic conditions, views of the political role of Islam, and attitudes toward international assistance.  Among other conclusions, the survey suggests that, overall, the young males of this region resemble males of the same age group in other parts of Russia in terms of their attitudes and concerns.  Released July 6, 2006.
 
 
Related Publications
 
Security through Sociology:
The North Caucasus and the Global Counterinsurgency Paradigm
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber analyze results of a 2006 survey of 1,200 young males from three provinces in Russia’s North Caucasus in this article on the need for policy makers to respond to the social and economic conditions of communities where terrorists may find support as a part of a global counterinsurgency strategy.  Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Vol. 32, Issue 9, September 2009. Please contact Lucy Moore for a copy of this article.
 
(Un)civil Society in the North Caucasus
Sarah Mendelson describes the growing instability and violence in the North Caucasus and calls on U.S., European, and Russian leaders to work cooperatively to bring an end to the region’s culture of impunity in this piece for foreignpolicy.com.  August 12, 2009.

Casualty Sensitivity in a Post-Soviet Context: Russian Views of the Second Chechen War, 2001–2004 
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber analyze Russian public opinion of the second war in Chechnya.  They show that concerns over Russian military casualties and the war's economic costs were the dominant sentiments, despite the Russian government's monopoly on media coverage of the conflict.  Moreover, they argue that the war appears to have fueled ethnic animosity toward Chechens.  Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 123, No. 1. Spring 2008.  Paper available upon request.

Anatomy of Ambivalence:
The International Community and Human Rights Abuse in the North Caucasus (pdf)
Sarah Mendelson looks at why the international community has done little to address grave human rights abuses in the region.  Problems of Post-Communism, Vol. 53, No. 6. November/December 2006, pp 3-15.
 
The World Fiddles as the North Caucasus Simmers
Sarah Mendelson and Fiona Hill.  Financial Times. August 29, 2005.
 
Les droits de l'homme et la guerre en Tchétchénie (Human rights and the war in Chechnya)
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber in “La Russie de Poutine," edited by Marie Mendras.  Pouvoirs, Paris, No. 112. January 2005. 
 
Putin’s Policies Fail, So Schoolchildren Suffer
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber on Russia’s Chechnya policy, written during the Beslan school hostage crisis.  Globe and Mail. September 3, 2004.
 
Russian Public Opinion on Human Rights and the War in Chechnya
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber. Post-Soviet Affairs, Vol. 18, No. 4. October-December 2002.
 
The Disconnect in How Russians Think about Human Rights and Chechnya:
A Consequence of Media Manipulation
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber. PONARS Policy Memo (number 244). January 2002.

How Russians Think about Chechnya
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber. PONARS Policy Memo (number 243). January 2002.
 
Toward a U.S. Policy on Chechnya
Sarah Mendelson.  PONARS Policy Memo (number 204). November 2001.
 
Explaining the International Community’s Response to the War in Chechnya
Sarah Mendelson.  PONARS Policy Memo (number 143). April 2000.

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