Russia’s Domestic Security Wars

Description

The book is a case study of Putin’s use of the tactics of divide and rule in relation to, particularly, the hard-line elements among his supporters. It illustrates Putin's methods of staying in power vis-à-vis groups that might put too much pressure on him, or who might even try to oust him. The project also suggests that Putin’s survival tactics have brought Russia to a deeply corrupt, state-dominated form of authoritarianism, which lacks deep institutional roots and will probably lead in due course to some form of state collapse. This work will appeal to a wide audience including political scientists, academics, graduate students, and everyone who is interested in contemporary Russian politics. Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Introduction (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 1-7 Front Matter ....Pages 9-9 Origins of the Cherkesov–Zolotov and Sechin Groupings, and of the Fierce Rivalries Between Silovik Groups (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 11-21 Front Matter ....Pages 23-23 Putin’s Re-election in March 2004 and the Murder of Tsepov in September; the Sechinites’ All-Out Assault on Cherkesov and His Group (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 25-33 A Summary of the Argument to Date and of How It Will Develop Regarding Events in 2005–2010 (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 35-38 Spring 2005: The Case of the Smuggled Chinese Goods Rocks the FSS and Patrushev (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 39-42 November 2005–Early 2006: Putin’s Succession-Related Moves; Silovik War Heats Up; the Sechinites Groom Their Own Presidential Candidate, Ustinov (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 43-47 May–June 2006: A Fight for the Customs Service—Full-Scale War Between the Silovik Clans; the Fall of Ustinov—A Triumph for the Cherkesovites (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 49-56 November 2006: The Tide Turns Against the Cherkesov–Zolotov Group as the Succession Struggle Heats Up (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 57-62 2007: Putin Tells the Sechinites He Favours Naryshkin for the Presidency; June–September 2007—New Sechinite Offensive Rocks the Cherkesovites (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 63-71 October 2007: Cherkesov Makes His Last Stand—Putin’s Minimal Aid Masks His Incipient Abandonment of His Longstanding Associate (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 73-75 How the War Had Evolved by Mid-October 2007: Putin’s MO During the Crisis; November 2007—Sechinites Sense Betrayal and Raise the Stakes (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 77-81 Late 2007: Difficulty Choosing a Successor—Medvedev Chosen at the Last Minute (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 83-86 Front Matter ....Pages 87-87 2007–2008: War Fades, Tandem Forms, Cherkesov Clan Dissolves, Sechinites Decline; Putin Generates New Factional Wars—General Procuracy vs the Investigations Committee of the Procuracy (ICP), Medvedev vs Sechin (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 89-93 2008–2011: The Different Fates of the Cherkesov and Sechin Groups (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 95-101 Front Matter ....Pages 103-103 Conclusion (Peter Reddaway)....Pages 105-111 Back Matter ....Pages 113-125