Publication

This report examines the Russian response to the threat of terrorism, stemming from what geographically are adjacent regions to Russia proper – the Caucasus and Central Asia. The authors discuss whether Russia has adopted a mirror image of the Bush doctrine in addressing challenges stemming from international terrorism in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) space, and if so, what consequences this has had for the mode of interaction in this area. The report includes case studies on Russian actions in the Caucasus and Central Asia. The authors explain that in Central Asia the terror threat has been interpreted in the perspective of states trying to control and rebuke incursions from Islamist insurgents, whereas in the Caucasus, the argument has been that of a failed state not controlling its own territory or deliberately harboring terrorists.