Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent. His current research interests focus on problems of democratic development in Russia, the nature of postcommunism, and the global challenges facing the former communist countries. His many books include 'Putin: Russia's Choice' (Routledge, 2004), 'Russian Politics and Society' (Routledge, 2002) and 'The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union' (Routledge, 1999).

'A set of well-written articles… highly recommended.' —'Choice Magazine'

• Acknowledgements; Notes on the Contributors; Map 1: Chechnya; Map 2: The Caucasus Region; 1. Introduction: Why Chechnya?, 2. Chechnya in Russia and Russia in Chechnya; 3. Chechnya and Tatarstan: Differences in Search of an Explanation ; 4. The Chechen War in the Context of Contemporary Russian Politics; 5. A Multitude of Evils: Mythology and Political Failure in Chechnya; 6. Chechnya and the Russian Military: A War Too Far?; 7. The Chechen Wars and the Struggle for Human Rights; 8. Dynamics of a Society at War: Ethnographical Aspects; 9. Chechnya: The Breaking Point; 10. Globalisation, 'New Wars', and the War in Chechnya; 11. Western Views of the Chechen Conflict; 12. A War by Any Other Name: Chechnya, 11 September and the War Against Terrorism; 13. The Peace Process in Chechnya; Afterword; Appendix 1: The Khasavyurt Peace Agreement; Appendix 2: Treaty on Peace and the Principles of Mutual Relations Between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria; Further Reading; Index