Abstract:
This thesis describes the Russian Chechenization Policies successfully implemented in Chechnya since 2000. Chechenization is responsible for bringing stability to Chechnya following two devastating wars. The key to Chechenization was the graduation transition of responsibility for counterinsurgency operations to the pro-Russian militias loyal to the current President of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. By implementing a robust counter-ideology campaign, based on traditional Chechen Sufi Islam, Kadyrov has been able to increase the legitimacy of his regime and deprive the insurgency of its moral base. The reliance on indigenous forces employing coercive methods created a system of completive control where the regime has dominated the population, preventing the insurgency from executing sophisticated and coordinated attacks. This thesis is slated to be a reference and resource for U.S. military officers and policy makers who are currently conducting counterinsurgency operations around the globe.
