Publications of EAWARN members
CHECHNYA: Life in a War-Torn Society
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CHECHNYA: Life in a War-Torn Society By Valery Tishkov California Series in Public Anthropology, 6 With a Foreword by Mikhail S. Gorbachev 2004. – 284 p.
ISBN 0-520-23888-5 © 2004 by the
University of California Press |
This book illuminates one of the world's most troubled regions from a unique perspective--that of a prominent Russian intellectual. Valery Tishkov, a leading ethnographer who has also served in several important political posts, examines the evolution of the war in Chechnya that erupted in 1994, untangling the myths, the long-held resentments, and the ideological manipulations that have fueled the crisis. In particular, he explores the key themes of nationalism and violence that feed the turmoil there. Forceful, original, and timely, his study combines extensive interview material, historical perspectives, and deep local knowledge. Tishkov sheds light on Chechnya in particular and on how secessionist conflicts can escalate into violent conflagrations in general. With its balanced assessments of both Russian and Chechen perspectives, this book will be essential reading for people seeking to understand the role of Islamic fundamentalist nationalism in the contemporary world.
"This book confronts the difficult question of why such conflicts arise--why do people who have lived side by side start killing one another? Some explain this in terms of history, citing innate hatred, the incompatibility of civilizations, or the unusual social structure of the rival nationalities. Some say the war in Chechnya was bought and paid for. But the question remains of why it is so easy to lead a society into conflict: why people take up arms or find themselves unable to oppose the initiators and perpetrators of violence. Tishkov's explanation has important theoretical and political significance and deserves the attention of an international audience."
--from the foreword by Mikhail S. Gorbachev
Contents Foreword by Mikhail S. Gorbachev Preface
1. Ethnography and Theory 2. Indigenization, Deportation, and Return 3. Contradictory Modernization 4. Chechen Images 5. The Road to War 6. Dzhokhar: Hero and Devil 7. The Sons of War 8. The Culture of Hostage-Taking 9. Violence in Secessionist Warfare 10. The Impact on Family Life 11. Religion and the Chechen Conflict 12. The Myth and Reality of the "Great Victory" 13. An Ideology of Extremes 14. Chechnya as a Stage and a Role
Conclusion Notes Main Characters Research Partners, Informants, and Cross-Reviewers Select Bibliography Index — OlgaKulbachevskaya - 11 Nov 2004