The Rise of Radical Islam in the North Caucasus: An Analysis of Caucasus Emirate

The goal of this study is to analyze the rise of radical Islamism and the establishment of a virtual state, “Caucasus Emirate” in 2007 by borrowing conceptual tools from social movements literature such as socio-economic indicators, political development and identity factors. While noting that such indicators alone cannot fully explain the rise of Islamism, this study identifies global radical Islam and absence of international conflict resolution mechanisms as determinant factors. First section provides a historical background of the discontent in Chechnya. Second section identifies basic concepts used in social movement theory to explain radicalization processes. Apart from this, third section identifies global radical Islam, counter-productive measures taken by the authorities in Russian Federation, and political and economic underdevelopment and mismanagement as sources of instability in the North Caucasus. Finally a comparison of Chechnya and Bosnia-Herzegovina provides the lack of international conflict resolution mechanisms as another important factor in the analysis of the conflict.