Russia-Chechnya Strategy - Essay Example

Student Name Course Code Instructor’s Name Date RUSSIA-CHECHNYA STRATEGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Chechnya is a hub of a great concern to the Russian Federation. With its national interests of safeguarding the territorial integrity, preventing terrorism, ensuring regional stability, Russia has been in tense relations with Chechnya for decades, and the conflict appears to be escalating. Terrorism has been on the rise as well as sabotage and hostage taking in the Russian cities. A third Chechen war is looming as the tactics devised are reaching new levels of intensity. This feeds into increased hostility and insecurity in the entire region with hundreds of civilian lives in jeopardy. The Chechen people are well aware of their history and are likely to carry on with their aspirations for an independent state whereas the Russian position on maintaining its territorial unity with Chechnya being an integral part of the Federation is unlikely to change. Therefore, the instability in Chechnya may not come to an end easily unless Russia approaches this conflict from a different perspective. With the heightened campaigns to progress the rule of self-governance and uphold democracy, Russian authorities need to develop a viable strategy vis-à-vis Chechnya. This strategy should be aimed at constructive confrontation with the Republic of Chechnya focusing on preventing military escalation of the conflict and ensuring sustainable political environment in the Republic. For the Russian strategy to be successful, Moscow needs to initiate talks with the Chechen officials pertaining matters of undertaking joint counterterrorism measures, promoting peace in the region and reaching a consensus on the possibility of expanding Chechnya’s autonomy within the Federation. INTRODUCTION The Caucasian region which incorporates the territory of the Chechen Republic has traditionally been of Russia’s strategic interests. This region gained its priority status owing to its large reserves of mineral and oil resources, investment attractiveness, and strategic location. Chechnya in particular is located within a near proximity to Russia’s vital transportation hubs linking Asia and Europe; as well as major pipelines carrying the Caspian oil are running through the Chechen territory. The political liberalization of the late 1980s triggered active nationalistic movements not only in the former Soviet Republics but in the Russian autonomies as well, with Chechnya being a frontrunner in the self-determination process and proclaiming its unilateral exit and complete independence from Russia in 1993. Driven by the national goals to ensure territorial integrity, security and economic prosperity, the Federal center initiated two military campaigns and managed to establish its control over the Chechen territory by the early 2000s. Nevertheless, the separatist sentiments have not been entirely suppressed and kept on fueling the rebel groups’ formation and their terrorist activities in major Russian cities. Namely, the Chechen guerillas assumed responsibility for the recent bombing attacks on the government buildings in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg as well as hostage tacking in Vladikavkaz and Nalchik. This paper aims at outlining the Russian response to these attacks and more importantly at developing a Russian strategy vis-à-vis Chechnya focused on achieving the nation’s consensus on peaceful co-existence within the Federation which would reduce volatility in the entire Caucasian region. Accordingly, this paper highlights Russia’s overall national interests and goals and analyzes the Chechen strategic profile, including threats this subject poses to the Federation. Further, it evaluates the potential effectiveness of the three suggested proposals on how the Chechen issue could be tackled strategically. A recommended approach to Russian–Chechen relations in the current context concludes the discussion. OUTLINING THE STRATEGIC CONTEXT In the contemporary world, conflicts in the international system have been those within rather than between or among states.1 In a number of these conflicts, the warring parties are central governments and ethnic or regional groups in pursuit of greater autonomy. One of the tools employed by central governments in the trying to contain the interstate conflicts, particularly nationalist or separatist conflicts is the decentralized governance, federalism, or regional autonomy arrangements.1 With the separatists move to fully secede from the Moscow control, there has been a tug of war between the Moscow forces and the Chechen rebels. The paralyzing fear that is dominating in the Chechen ground can be attributed to the kidnapping by law enforcement and security agencies under the President Kadyrov’s de facto control. Hostage cases are a norm and kidnapping has been rampant in the Russian cities with Chechen rebels assuming responsibility. With respect to uppermost priority of the Russian national security policy which incorporates protection of interests of the individual, society and the state, main foreign policy efforts should be geared towards the realisation of chief objectives. These include ensuring national security, preserving and intensifying its sovereignty and territorial integrity, to attain firm stands of authority in the world community that best meet the interests of the Russian Federation as an influential center in the contemporary world, and those necessary for the development of its political, economic, and intellectual potential.2 According to the words of Thomas de Waal, three agendas are of broad interest to the Chechen conflict; 1) The Chechen conflict is not just confined to Chechnya any longer, but the whole of North Caucasus; 2) The conflict has turned to be a self-perpetuating conflict for a number of reasons, mostly economic 3) The conflict is gaining an international perspective and thus, calls for international attention.1 The realisation of a Russian vis-à-vis Chechnya strategy should be geared towards the realisation of stability in the area to safeguard it from terrorism, which has become an international issue with the al-Qaeda attacks to the Western countries, and the U.S. Chechnya has been termed to be linked to the al-Qaeda terror group.2 This poses a major security challenge not just to the Russian Federation but to the whole European region and the US and in specific, all those countries that are anti-Islam revolutions being experienced in the world. DEFINING RUSSIAN NATIONAL INTEREST Two decades after the fall of the Soviet Union and the emergence of Russia as an independent state, Moscow aims at defining the totality of the Russian Federation with respect to Chechnya and the Caucasus region in mid-European Russia.3 Consequently, at minimum, Russia’s rhetoric vis-à-vis Chechnya in the Caucasian region is deemed to become intensified with Putin era. Under the prevailing circumstances, maintaining a proper focus on the Russia-Chechnya strategic measures in Moscow is of key interest to policymakers to enhance political and economic development in the region. With a pro-Russia president in Chechnya, the interests of the Russian Federation in Chechnya are hoped to be positive with the current authorities. The main line of Russian authorities is that in the laying down of national goals and priorities, the federal authorities are guided, not just by purely Russian, but rather by Rossiiskii interests by listening to all citizens regardless of their social, nationality, political, or ethnic background. The concept Rosiiiskii stands for the commonwealth in the wholeness of its entire people, their traditions, culture and beliefs.1 Russia’s main priority is the survival as a coherent state entity and ensures its territorial boundaries are maintained for economic sustenance.2 Though the conceptualists claim that the term “national interests” largely refers to the external policy goal of a state, whereas the domestic, internal goals are covered with the notion of “public interests”, the two aspects are interrelated in Russia’s case.3 This was used in the definition of the totality of interests of a country in the foreign policy arena. The term also always incorporate most crucial political aspirations of a state to its security like defense and maintaining independence. A number of interests arise with respect to Russia including; safeguarding territorial integrity, Nuclear weapons enhancement, Non-proliferation and Counter-terrorism. Further, national security priorities incorporate protection of the individual, society and the state. The main foreign policy efforts ought to focus on the achieving the following core objectives: 1) ensuring national security; 2) Preserving and strengthening its sovereignty and territorial integrity; 3) to achieve strong positions of authority in the world community that best meet the interests of Russian Federation representing an influential center in the modern world; and 3) objectives crucial for the growth of its political, economic, intellectual and spiritual growth. Russia has been at the firm hold of not granting full autonomy to the Chechnya republic. The factors standing out as the rational behind Russian objective to control Chechnya at any cost has been; 1) The struggle for the oil and property distribution in the Caucasus region; 2) Chechnya’s secession poses a major threat to the Russian Federation and 3) Aversion to the establishment of an Islamic state in Northern Caucasus.1 Russia-Chechnya: Current status and Russia’s Interests/Objectives vis-à-vis Chechnya The fact behind normalization of the relations between Chechnya and Russia has been whether to grant amnesty and has overshadowed the emerging policies. The crimes committed against humanity in Chechnya by Russian soldiers have been alarming with the resolution for legislation proposed regarding those committing serious crimes in Chechnya should not be granted amnesty. Bilateral relations have also been initiate regarding the importance for the clarification of relations between Chechnya and the Russian Federation and resolve war-related problems, for example the exchange of war-prisoners.2 Nevertheless, to come to a mutual acceptance of decisions has been a complex undertaking than it had previously been expected. Given the outlined strategic environment and recent developments in Russia and Chechen Republic relations, Russia’s interests and objectives vis-à-vis Iran are focused in the areas of fostering security, achieving economic prosperity and promoting Russia’s position with regard to territorial integrity as well as upholding human rights. Ensuring Security The realisation of peace and tranquility in the Russian Federation lies as a key interest and policy objective as it labors to protect and maintain its territorial boundaries. This is in line with the assurance of security to the locals as well as internationals visiting the region. The North Caucasus has along history of conflict with the Russian state and it will take years for the region to become stable and economically viable to the extent of undermining radicalization among its marginalized inhabitants. Russia’s new security strategy is not very clear with respect to the strategic security measures of the Russian political military leadership. The tone of the strategy employed is rather diplomatic and less confrontational with respect to Russia’s rhetoric over the past years. The strategy enhances internal aspects of security and avoids the controversial aspects concerning security and avoids the re cent foreign and security policy. From the words of Jeffrey Mankoff, Russia as a country aspiring to play a key role analogous to teat of the US in the world, it has little choice, it has to devise measures geared towards establishing and equipping itself security wise to this archaic world and be ready for any eventual challenging outcome.1 The outgoing President Medvedev in 2009 approved the Russian national security strategy for a period until 2020 replacing the security concept from 1997 that was modified in 2000. This reflected Russia’s evolved security environment and had a stronger conciliatory character. This identifies threats and challenges within a broadly defined concept of security though it does not discuss broadly on the Russian nuclear policy bringing the idea of further reliance on nuclear deterrence and nuclear parity with the United States.2 Achieving Economic Prosperity The Russian economy has been experiencing severe problems of late. With its stock market down by 70% in 2008, the successive budget was based on the projected oil price. The 2008 global economic crisis response was taken with echoes from 1998 experience. The economy has a prominent place as a key security factor. The reliance of the Russian economy on export of raw materials has been identified as a threat, together with foreign association in the state economy. Many Russian commentators have illustrated that if the goal is to keep a hard-hit Russian economy in the international mainstream, adjustment in Russian foreign policy are likely to follow, as well. The major Russian objective is to become one of five biggest economies in the world in terms of GDP. Other strategic measures incorporate paying attention to infrastructure development to reduce economic differences among Russian regions specifically in the Arctic and Far East. Chechnya has a long reputation in the Russian Federation of organized crimes and corrupt business practices. Being strategic ally placed, Chechnya is key to the Russia oil and mineral transportation. Any economic crisis afflicts different countries in different ways, but a number of the unfortunate few experience every painful experience every painful dimension of it.1 Russia’s most important pipelines which carry the Caucasian oil and natural gas to Black sea and the European region passes through the Chechen land. Therefore, the realisation of effective economic growth and business ties with the other European nations, Chechnya is a key priority to Russian economic development. Culturalism as claimed to the core of the whole crisis is a tool of disguise in the Caucasus region for the economic interests underneath the conflicts.2 The Russian authorities under the current Putin regime is determined to tighten its resources from the hands of insurgents to ensure economic sustainability and development beyond reliable measures. Promoting Russian Identity Russia embraces nationalism based on class identity contrary to the nationalism’s classical orientation towards ethnicity. According to the foreign policy concept of Russian Federation, Russia has the objective of strengthening the foundations of the constitutional system, rule of law and democratic institutions, realisation of human rights and freedoms and as and enhances competitiveness of the nation in globalizing the world.1 With respect to this, the relations of equal partnerships among states with a central and coordinating role of the United Nation with respect to promoting international relations and possess a unique legitimacy. Paradoxically, Chechen nationalism is a phenomenon that Moscow should actually enhance with respect to the Chechen natural non-conformism turning them against militant Islam as it turns them against Russian nationalism.2 ANALYSING CHECHNYA STRATEGIC PROFILE Domestic Politics The political situation in Chechnya has been transformed to take the perspective of Islamic nature. In 1998, Islamists joined Chechen commanders began a holy war aimed at driving Russians out of Chechnya and creating a single Islamic republic.3 After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia never recognized the autonomy of Chechnya and was determined to undermine its territorial integrity or to encourage other areas to secede. In March 2003, Chechen referendum was approved favoring a new constitution. This stipulated the republic as part of Russian Federation. Nevertheless, the referendum faced intense criticism as not being truly representing the desires of the Chechen people as conflict had not yet been settled.1 Years of political discrimination has fueled the Chechens anger providing them the momentum to terrorism acts. The adaptation adopted by Chechens of this radical form of Islam is seen as a more feasible alternative to organized, armed warfare. This has resulted to further damaging the relationship between the Chechens and Russians and elongate the conflict.2 Ethnicity challenges Chechnya comprises mainly of the Chechens who constitute 95.3% of the total population.3 Religious diversities, Christian-versus-Muslim has resulted to conflicts in rendering access to land and other resources a problem. At times, the ethnic differences gives rise to more direct sparks of conflicts. The Russians had been contemptuous of the swarthy Chechens, especially those to the south of Chechnya, who were predominantly Muslim. The Russian Population living in the area left during the Chechen revolution and connected with the upsurge of Chechen nationalism in the 90’s.4 Demographics The Chechens comprises of 95 percent of the whole Chechnya’s population. According to the 2010 demographics records of Russian census, Chechnya has a population of 1,266,474 people with the Chechens being 1,206,551 which is a whooping 95.3%. Other minority ethnic groups constitute the Russians and Kumyks which are 1.9% and 1% respectively, with the other tribes having a population less than 1%.1 The Chechnya population has a large disparity in comparison to that of Russia constituting a total of 142.9 million Russians.2 With its s mall population and resources, Chechnya has the potential to make considerable growth in the Caucasian region. On the other hand, Russia still consider Chechnya part of Russia and is not bowing to let the mineral rich region gain full autonomy. Economy Secession does not always lead to net economic costs, particularly in the long run; this is contrary to the assumptions of many. If secession is accompanied by significant violence, it will prove very costly in human lives and in loses of economic infrastructure and productive activity.3 Apart from the presence of Russian soldiers in Chechnya, it has experienced years of political and economic discrimination from its first independence in 1991. Russia’s great interest in Chechnya is to gain access to oil and gas pipelines that run from the Caspian Sea through Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. Chechen’s Interest with respect to attaining independence Read More