Insurgency Success Factors and Rebel Legitimacy
analysts to obtain non-state based information. A Russian journalist notes that, while the
accounts are exaggerated, they are often based off real events and policies 14.
The second challenge with Chechen sources is an inherent lack of direct civilian
perspective. The diversity of populations in Chechnya further contributes to the challenge of
capturing accurate opinions of the Chechen population in its entirety. Military support, elections,
and media provide some insight into popular opinion from 1990-1998. In his book Chechnya:
Life in a War-Torn Society, Valerie Tishkov incorporates an ethnographic perspective of
Chechen life from the initiation to the First Chechen War to early 200015. Civilian perspective is
largely constrained following 2000 due to two factors. First, Russia's stronghold on access to the
region restricted foreign presence, monitoring, and connection with the Chechen population 16.
Second, an established Russian military presence in 2000 and implementation of harsh
punishments against rebel supporters presents questions into the validity of civilian public
statements, that may be influenced by fear of reprisal 17.
Legitimacy and Rebellion
Contemporary literature on rebel legitimacy provides a strong foundation for
understanding legitimacy's role in rebellion power dynamics. Rebellions are often understood as
a struggle between a state that holds power and one or more rebel groups seeking to obtain
power through achieving legitimate rule 18. Within this dynamic, it can be assumed that when
one actor gains power or legitimacy, another loses power or legitimacy 19. Fearon (1995) argues
that protracted conflicts occur when neither the state nor rebel actors have the capacity or power
to achieve victory over the other. In the case of Chechnya, this dynamic is present in the failure
of the Chechen rebellion to eliminate Russian control at any given point, and Russia's failure to
fully eradicate rebel activity.
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