A Small War: The Development of the Russian-Chechen Conflict, 1994-2010

Since 1994, the two Russian-Chechen wars have revealed the importance of combining enemy and population-centric tactics to resolve conflicts. The first war, based on enemy-centric tactics, ended in Russian failure and Chechen autonomy. Economically devastated by war, the Chechnya population splintered as the separatists continued the war to liberate neighboring countries. Although the Russians' second invasion secured Chechnya, the Russian forces were unable to destroy the population's support for the separatists. In 2002, identifying the split between radical and moderate separatist elements, the Russian government added population-centric tactics focused on local moderate Chechens. The moderate local Chechens subsequently began administering Chechnya. War weary and disillusioned by separatist terrorism, the Chechen populace chose the stability and economic opportunities the Russian-orchestrated and Russian-funded Chechen government provided. Relentlessly targeted and having lost Chechen support, the remaining separatists lived in exile or joined terrorist organizations. In the end, the combination of tactics ended Chechnya's bid for autonomy.