Insurgency Success Factors and Rebel Legitimacy
dissolution of the state and Islamist rhetoric accompanying the development of the Islamic
Caucasian Emirate challenges the connection of the post-2007 insurgency to the initial
movement. After 2007, the insurgency also adopted rhetoric, practice, and ideology that
connected the movement to international jihadi movements. While it can be argued that this
movement is, in fact, a continuation of the domestic separatist movement, the dissolution of the
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and growing involvement with transnational jihadism present
considerations that have yet to be address is academic literature, that are outside the scope of this
paper. As such, the focus of this analysis ends in 200749.
The actors involved in the Chechen separatist rebellion also must be defined. Although
many groups were active in shaping the political, social, economic, and security environment in
Chechnya from 1990-2007, the focus of this analysis is the Chechen separatist insurgency and
the de facto government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. These two actors present an
interesting case for examination for several reasons. First, these forces held crucial roles in
shaping, maintaining, and leading the Chechen separatist rebellion. The leading role of these
actors in shaping political, social, and military space in Chechnya in the 1990's represented their
ability to access legitimate Chechen political space in ways criminal organizations, warlords, and
other active organizations failed to achieve. These two actors also facilitated the bulk of military
and political activity directly targeting the Russian government and Chechen independence from
1990 to 2007. Another key justification for examining the two actors is that de facto and
insurgent leaders remain the only non-Russian affiliated Chechen political groups to facilitate
negotiations and communications with foreign actors. Both the insurgency and de facto
government have in some way influenced or been targeted by foreign media, assistance,
research, and perception. These two entities were on the radar of the international community in
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