The Insurgency in Chechnya and the North Caucasus: From Gazavat to Jihad (Praeger Security International) - Tapa dura

"This book presents the facts and gives the reader a basis for interpreting how much is hype, often Russian-proliferated hype, and how it differs from reality on the ground. It is a fascinating, engaging read about a region that receives too little coverage and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learning more about the geopolitical realities of the North Caucasus." - E-International Relations "Comprehensive and informative. . . . Schaefer's informed analysis of the Chechen insurgency makes this a book that every student of counterinsurgency or the Caucasus region should own." - Military Writers Society of America "A 'must-read' for those who are looking for answers about how to stop the brutality and violence in Southern Russia." - The New Book Review "Thoughtful and comprehensive analysis . . . useful to the policymaker. . . . Helps answer the paradox that most of those who have studied the region grappled with: Why have the Russians never succeeded in extinguishing this 300-year-old insurgency while, at the same time, the Chechens have never been able to win their independence?" - Parameters "Enormously helpful in understanding the ongoing conflict in the North Caucasus, and the gnawing feeling of dread as Russia prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. . . . Free of cynicism and romance. . . . It makes one wish military analysts had taken on the Afghan puzzle with similar energy, say, a decade or so back." - New York Times "A first-rate study that is part history, part counterinsurgency theory, and part predictive analysis. . . . The North Caucasus is a complex and bewildering ethnic and cultural mix that is hard for a foreigner to understand. Robert Schaefer has done much to overcome this through his thorough research and balanced approach. His history of the region and the post-Soviet phase is especially well done. . . . Strongly recommend." - The Journal of Military History "Scrupulously researched." - The National Interest "Schaefer's debut is an in-depth critical assessment of the Russo-Chechen conflict that reflects a deep understanding of counterinsurgency in general and how it relates to that region specifically. . . . His reasoning is honest, well-researched and refreshingly free of partisan rhetoric. A tour de force in breadth and depth." - Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "A remarkable book. . . . Col Schaefer's book does a fine job in summarizing the breadth and depth of the conflict, and making the latest military thinking about insurgencies accessible, while steering clear of polemic or bias. This book tells you a lot about the Caucasus. And also about the brainpower assets of the American military." - The Economist

For the first time, a military expert on both Russia and insurgency offers the definitive guide on activities in Southern Russia, explaining why the Russian approach to counter terrorism is failing and why terrorist and insurgent attacks in Russia have sharply increased over the past three years. * Information drawn from the North Caucasus Incident Database (NCID), compiling every violent incident in the region over a two-year period * Charts showing the complex strategies of the insurgency and the Russian counterinsurgency campaigns * Maps, charts, and a bibliography * The first doctrinal analysis (classified or unclassified) produced on the conflict in over 10 years * Declassified Intelligence reports