Insurgency Success Factors and Rebel Legitimacy
CHAPTER 3: POLITICAL SPACE, LEGITIMACY, AND SUCCESS IN THE
CHECHEN REBELLION
In order to understand how legitimacy contributed to Chechen separatist gains and losses
in domestic political space, it is important to understand the contextual realities of political space
in Russia and Chechnya from 1990-2007. Political space in Chechnya in the early 1990's can
only be described as chaotic, unorganized, and influx50. The breakup of the Soviet Union, rise of
Chechen nationalism, developing Wahhabism, and continued presence of warlords, criminals,
and radicals presented significant challenges to securing Chechen political space in the early
years of the rebellion 51.
Following his victory in the 1991 Soviet-Chechen elections, Dudayev harnessed the
chaos of the breakup of the Soviet bloc and insecure Chechen environment to insert himself into
the role of leader of the independence movement 52. Legitimacy awarded to his rule through
various means contributed to his ability to maintain control of Chechen political space, despite
rampant criminal activity, a destitute economy, and administrative corruption.
Putin's rise to power and developing insecurity in Chechnya from 1999-2000 brought
about a drastic shift in Russian-Chechen political space, attitudes, and policy53. One month
before Russian presidential elections, Putin was faced with responding to the Moscow apartment
bombing and the Chechen separatist insurgency's invasion of Dagestan to liberate the Islamic
majority republic from Russian rule. The pending elections and increasingly insecure
environment in Chechnya influenced the president's decision to implement harsh measures to
crack down on Chechen rebellion 54. The apartment bombings and invasion of Dagestan greatly
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