The Roots of Islamic Radicalism in Northern Caucasus and the Influence of Syrian Civil War on Current Developments
The Roots of Islamic Radicalism in Northern Caucasus and the Influence of Syrian Civil War on Current Developments

Summary/Abstract: The North Caucasus has been a volatile region from a security point of view not only after the Cold War but also long before. Populations from North Caucasus always strived for freedom and opposed foreign powers and conquest, but being caught between Russia, Turkey and Persia (Iran) they had to cope with this situation of being periphery of great powers’ game. The attempt to homogenize populations which were different from an ethnic and religious point of view often engendered resistance and wars. For many North Caucasus locals, modernity was rejected, being seen as mere Russification and Christianization, thus the struggle for preserving Islamic values was eventually fused with the so-called endeavor for national liberation from the Russian domination. Before the total elimination of ISIS presence from Syria, Iraq and Libya, its leadership could recommend to the fighters to go and help the fight in North Caucasus and other Muslim populated areas of Russia. ISIS will probably try to bolster the successors of the Caucasus Islamic Emirate in the future and keep them integrate in the global jihadist framework.Russia and the western states (USA and EU countries) must coordinate their strategies to allow an open informal dialogue between traditional Sufi and fundamentalist Salafi Muslims in North Caucasus and MENA, they must recognize the legitimate economic and political grievances of local populations and help them have a better life (democratic procedures to be respected, some level of decentralization, investments, jobs and education for young people). These instruments would support the de-radicalization process on the long term.

• Details
• Contents