Insurgency Success Factors and Rebel Legitimacy
perceptions of legitimacy amongst the international community, but increased the rebels'
legitimacy amongst Islamist organizations 151. Perceptions of legitimacy as an “illegitimate” actor
awarded the Chechen rebellion access to resources, international propaganda platforms, and
heightened international attention to Chechnya. Both avenues provide different types of
resources, benefits, and connections 152
In Chechnya, ideological support and propaganda campaigns, as well as provision of
materials, recruitment, and access to logistics networks have strongly contributed to bolstering
rebel legitimacy. The strongest external support factors that contribute to legitimacy are support
of insurgent ideology and propaganda, and providing access to materials, recruitment, and
logistics networks.
Ideology and Propaganda
In the early stages of the bid for Chechen independence, Chechnya received cautious
support from the U.S., U.K., and UN 153. Chechen independence occurred at a challenging time
for the international community, that was balancing newfound concepts of international
humanitarianism; foreign assistance to conflicts in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia; and re-
establishing relationships with a post-Cold War Russia 154. The Chechen bid for independence
proposed an inherent conflict of interest to these values 155. International actors also balanced
these considerations with the potential benefits of a Chechen state. Many believed an
independent Chechnya would provide freer access to its oil production. Many also hoped that
Chechnya would provide a reliable, democratic ally to the West in Eastern Europe¹56
Dudayev's early independence movement appealed to newfound international liberal
values in several ways. First, the democratic nature of Dudayev's elections, support of Chechen
citizens and presented the possibility for the successful development of a democracy in
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