Roots and Trajectories of Violent Extremism and Terrorism A Cooperative Program of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Russian Academy of Sciences (1995-2020) (2022) / Chapter Skim
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1 Ethnic Conflicts within Russia
1 Ethnic Conflicts within Russia
Pages 9-26
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From page 9... ...
Superior knowledge of the situation would have a supremely practical advantage. It would improve the capacities of responsible specialists, officials, participants, and third parties to anticipate the consequences of alternative policies, and even to design creative nonviolent ways of settling conflicts.2 – Global view of ethnic relations by American Academician Charles Tilly, 2003 9
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From page 10... ...
that the two academies undertake a joint program that addressed conflicts in multiethnic societies. The program would emphasize lessons learned in Chechnya and future approaches in reducing turmoil throughout the Caucasus region of Russia, while also addressing ethnic conflicts in other areas of the former Soviet Union.
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From page 11... ...
Three NAS-RAS working groups are formed, and they begin corresponding electronically. November 2001: In Nizhny Novgorod, a roundtable of managers of an early warning network to assess ethnic unrest provides im portant insights for the NAS team, and discussions are held with government officials of the Volga Federal District.
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From page 12... ...
As to available analyses of the chaos in Chechnya and other turbulent areas, the Kona Statement that was prepared in 1994 at a retreat in Hawaii by a group of leading American, Russian, and East European ethnologists had become a particularly important document in academic circles in Moscow when addressing ethnic relations within Russia (see Appendix A)
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From page 13... ...
A multifaceted workshop in Washington, D.C., brought together perspectives of core concerns. Finally, an international workshop in Helsinki offered fresh perspectives of experts from Europe and the Middle East as well as researchers from the United States and Russia whose experiences challenged and then supported the views of core members of the overall program team.
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From page 14... ...
Some works by Chechen authors, numerous publications by Russian historians, and nationalist brochures from other parts of the former Soviet Union portraying a heroic Chechen history and calling for correction of past injustices contributed to the outbreak of violence. Scientific conferences involving prominent leaders of the liberation movement aired not only mythical versions of the past but direct appeals to complete the mission of liberation.
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From page 15... ...
Some objected to Kremlin-decreed changes in governance practices, while others reported favorably on many governmental modifications and clarifications in address ing ethnic-related complaints that they considered long overdue.8 Regional officials, in a separate meeting with the NAS and the RAS specialists, persuasively argued that their efforts to promote equality through out the region were constantly undermined by policies emanating from Moscow. While the central government in principle promoted economic development from farming to generation of nuclear power, there were limits on the initiatives that could be influenced by local perspectives.
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From page 16... ...
The one exception that then became and remained the law for the indefinite future proclaims that the governor of Chechnya will continue to be locally elected and will control all security forces, including the 30,000 military and KGB personnel, who had been stationed in the republic for many years.10 Later, during the explorations in various regions, American scientists visited Nizhny Novgorod to discuss the ethnoreligious accord adopted in the Volga Federal District. This accord provided an important window for understanding the diversity of ethnic conflicts and approaches to reducing conflicts in Russia.
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From page 17... ...
The RAS published a much-needed book documenting activities in Dagestan, drawing heavily on the symposium.12 Near the end of this phase of the inter-academy program, the NAS and the RAS organized a workshop in Finland to obtain broader international insights into violent extremism that was resulting in loud alarms throughout the Middle East and Europe. Some participants were particularly interested in the recruitment incentives used by ISIS and other radical groups in the search for foreign fighters from Chechnya and Europe.
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From page 18... ...
He urged removal of the social basis for the extremists through economic development, increased living standards for the population, and establishment of normal dialogs involving the region's Muslim community.13 • Next were the following comments from a Russian expert on the Middle East and North Africa. Despite obvious failures in eco nomic, technological, and material development throughout the Muslim world, there had been a powerful expansion of Islam -- from South Africa to the banks of the Volga, the Rhine, and the Thames and across the United States.
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From page 19... ...
The network, which is described in Appendix B, galvanized interest of local officials and researchers throughout many regions of the country to improve understanding of the roots of ethnic anxieties that could lead to violence. The Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology has coordinated the network that monitors ethnic relations across Russia and in other parts of the former Soviet Union.
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From page 20... ...
A MODEST PROJECT DIMENSION OF THE QUEST FOR CALM IN CHECHNYA When the NAS was invited to join with the RAS in seeking roads to a reduction in violence, initially focused on Chechnya, there was no shortage of Russian and international academics who were prepared to write papers and present theories about steps to settle the rumblings among the population of Chechnya. But simply writing academic papers, however persuasive, and then organizing workshops to provide the basis for more papers were viewed by many as an inadequate response to the call from the RAS to join forces with the NAS in addressing on-the-ground realities in Grozny.
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From page 21... ...
However, the difficulty in traveling on the proscribed path to realize the education goals was based in large measure on fantasy -- a fantasy of availability of transportation to and from school, a fantasy that willing and able local teachers would always be available, a fantasy that education in Grozny would put them on the road to professional success, and a fantasy that children could be spared from the horrors of internal warfare. However, within 3 days of workshop discussions the local educators had succeeded in adding a broad dose of reality to the road ahead.
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From page 22... ...
Among the topics that were addressed were the following: • Organizing Programs on Democratization of Society • Ensuring the Security, Rights, and Freedom of Citizens • Shaping International Public Opinion on the Situation in Chechnya • Considering Captured Members of the Resistance not as Criminals but as Persons Seeking a Return to Peace • Guaranteeing Personal Security for Recipients of Amnesty
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From page 23... ...
6. Equipping a sports hall for freestyle wrestling competitions linked to the physical education curriculum of Grozny Teachers College.
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From page 24... ...
• Strong government and prosperous living conditions do not guar antee peace and harmony, and conflicts among representatives of the elite are more frequent and stronger than those among the common people. However, order and prosperity provide increased opportunities to avoid intolerance, violence, and conflicts.19 Additional comments on cooperation about ethnic challenges during later years are set forth in Chapter 5 and Appendix E
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From page 25... ...
Op. cit., NRC, "Program for Strengthening Ethno-Religious Accord in the Volga Federal District," p.
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