Miriam Lanskoy, Ilyas Akhmadov

Gebundenes Buch

The Chechen Struggle

Independence Won and Lost

Mitarbeit: Loparo, Kenneth A.

Beschreibung

KEY TITLE
The Russian-Chechen war has been the longest, cruelest, and bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II, surpassing even the level of destruction of Bosnia and Kosovo. Told from the perspective of its former Foreign Minister, this uniquely candid account of Chechnya's struggle for independence and its two wars against Russia will revise our understanding of the conflict and explain how it continues. Ilyas Akhmadov delivers a comprehensive history including new details about the start of the first war against Russia, the crises within Chechen society, the splintering and radicalization of the Chechen leadership, the incursions into Dagestan, and his own efforts to bring about peace. Akhmadov provides intimate portraits of key personalities including General Dzhokhar Dudayev Chechnya's first charismatic president; Shamil Basayev who was transformed from a talented rebel fighter into radical who was responsible for many terrorist attacks including the hostage takings in the theater Nord Ost and the school in Beslan; and the tragic personality of Aslan Maskhadov, the principled president who tried to maintain unity and coherence despite enormous difficulties. The book shows the impossible dilemma of the moderate nationalists in post-Soviet societies, who are challenged by radical Islamic ideology, social deprivations, Russian aggression, and international neglect. By giving voice to the moderates, the book seeks to shift the balance in their favor.
A uniquely candid account of Chechnya's struggle for independence and its two wars against Russia from Chechnya's former Foreign Minister

Autor

ILYAS AKHMADOV was the Foreign Minister of Chechnya during the second war with Russia where he represented the legitimately elected government of Aslan Maskhadov. He authored a peace plan, launched a negotiations process, and sought to bring attention to the tragic fate of his nation through a variety of international forums. His work has appeared in The Washington Post and in The Boston Globe. MIRIAM LANSKOY works at the National Endowment for Democracy on programs in Eurasia.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Palgrave Macmillan / Palgrave Macmillan US / Springer Palgrave Macmillan
• Artikelnr. des Verlages: 978-0-230-10534-8
• 2010
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. November 2010
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 241mm x 160mm x 22mm
• Gewicht: 600g
• ISBN-13: 9780230105348
• ISBN-10: 0230105343
• Artikelnr.: 30976607

Rezensionen

"Akhmadov feels disgusted by both Ramzan Kadyrov's rule and the jihadists who hijacked the independence movement. He nurses a vision of the Chechen people one day resurrecting the idea that animated their initial revolt in 1994: the establishment of Chechnya as a secular, democratic state." - The Wall Street Journal

"Akhmadov does not avoid . . .pointing out how (Chechens) contributed to their own national catastrophe. But he saves much of his bitterness for the west. The desires of the Chechens were meaningless when compared to our own security needs. Akhmadov forcefully argues that, in ignoring the legitimate desires of ordinary people, the democracies undermine the very safety they think they are securing...when historians write

about the war on terror, Akhmadov will come out of it a lot better than a lot of western politicians will." - The Guardian

"A personal and a historical account of the Chechen struggle . . ..informative and highly readable . . .Recommended." - Choice

"Ilyas Akhmadov's memoir is the first personal account by a member of the Chechen leadership of the events that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Chechens and the transformation of Russia. He gives the best description I have seen of the fateful 1999 invasion of Dagestan that led to the Second Chechen War and he provides objective and fair minded portraits of the two most important Chechen leaders, Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basayev. He also shows the roots of the divisions in Chechen society and explains the background to the kidnapping for ransom that did so much to damage the reputation of the Chechens. His book needs to be read." - David Satter, Darkness at Dawn: the Rise of the Russian Criminal State

"The publication of The Chechen Struggle is an event of singular importance. As Chechnya s former Foreign Minister, Akhmadov ably shows that there was always a moderate alternative to Chechen extremism - and that Russia has systematically destroyed it. This is Akhmadov s urgent message, and as the Chechen conflict spreads to the other republics of the North Caucasus, further emboldening Russia s autocrats, it is one the world can no longer afford to ignore." - Carl Gershman, President of the National Endowment for Democracy