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Islamists and Nationalists: Rebel Motivation and Counterinsurgency in Russia?s North Caucasus

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  • Yuri M. Zhukov
  • Toft, Monica Duffy

Abstract

This article offers the first disaggregated, quantitative comparison of Islamist and nationalist violence, using new data from Russia?s North Caucasus. We find that violence by Islamist groups is less sensitive to government coercion than violence by nationalist groups. Selective counterinsurgency tactics outperform indiscriminate force in suppressing attacks by nationalists, but not Islamists. We attribute this finding to rebels? support structure. Because Islamist insurgents rely less on local support than nationalists, they are able to maintain operations even where it is relatively costly for the local population to support them. These findings have potentially significant implications for other contemporary conflicts, in which governments face both types of challenges to their authority and existing political order.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuri M. Zhukov & Toft, Monica Duffy, "undated". "Islamists and Nationalists: Rebel Motivation and Counterinsurgency in Russia?s North Caucasus," Working Paper 221546, Harvard University OpenScholar.
  • Handle: RePEc:qsh:wpaper:221546
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    File URL: http://scholar.harvard.edu/zhukov/node/221546
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    Cited by:

    1. Roland Hodler & Paul Raschky & Anthony Strittmatter, 2018. "Religion and Terrorism: Evidence from Ramadan Fasting," Papers 1810.09869, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2020.
    2. Monica Duffy Toft, 2021. "Getting Religion Right in Civil Wars," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 65(9), pages 1607-1634, October.
    3. Lars-Erik Cederman & Simon Hug & Livia I. Schubiger & Francisco Villamil, 2020. "Civilian Victimization and Ethnic Civil War," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 64(7-8), pages 1199-1225, August.
    4. Hodler, Roland & Raschky, Paul & Strittmatter, Anthony, 2018. "Religiosity and Terrorism: Evidence from Ramadan Fasting," CEPR Discussion Papers 13257, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Michael Freedman, 2019. "Fighting from the Pulpit: Religious Leaders and Violent Conflict in Israel," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 63(10), pages 2262-2288, November.
    6. Martin Gassebner & Paul Schaudt & Melvin H. L. Wong, 2020. "Armed Groups in Conflict: Competition and Political Violence in Pakistan," CESifo Working Paper Series 8372, CESifo.
    7. Mounu Prem & Andrés F. Rivera & Dario A. Romero & Juan F. Vargas, 2018. "Killing Social Leaders for Territorial Control: The Unintended Consequences of Peace," Documentos de Trabajo 16385, Universidad del Rosario.
    8. Reyko Huang & Patricia L Sullivan, 2021. "Arms for education? External support and rebel social services," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 58(4), pages 794-808, July.
    9. Sara MT Polo, 2020. "The quality of terrorist violence: Explaining the logic of terrorist target choice," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 57(2), pages 235-250, March.
    10. Isak Svensson & Desirée Nilsson, 2018. "Disputes over the Divine," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 62(5), pages 1127-1148, May.

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