Chechnya: The Case for Independence

by Tony Wood

The Case for Chechnya sharply criticizes the role of Western nations in their struggle, and lays bare the weakness—and shamefulness—of the arguments used to deny the Chechens’ right to sovereignty. Tony Wood considers Russo-Chechen relations over the past century and a half, as well as the fate of the region since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Russia

199 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2007

About the author

Tony Wood lives in New York and writes on Russia and Latin America. He is a member of the editorial board of New Left Review. His writing has appeared in the London Review of Books, the Guardian, n+1 and the Nation, among other publications.

Reviews

[Jelger Groeneveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling advocacy for Chechen independence, not in the least because of Russia's abuse of the Chechen, and therefore disqualifying itself as a patron acting "to protect its citizens/subordinates".
The blatant turning a blind eye (and ignorance of the roots of the conflict) by western public and diplomats makes the modern history of the Chechens all the more tragic, having to live under the (criminal and) proxy regime of Kadyrov who deploys middleages style torture to his own subordinates.

[Victor Rabinovich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weak

[Weadee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty sus of the people that gave the book 1 star........Wood's writing was definitely not that bad and he makes his case pretty clear. Just say you don't want Chechnya to be independent and go.

I appreciated how comprehensive the book was despite its length and he has a very measured approach with each chapter. It is a bit dated now but does a good overview of Chechen history and Soviet/Russian atrocities in the nation without going down the rabbit hole. I just wish he would've written more on civilians. I never really felt like I got an image of people with actual flesh and blood. More just the idea of them.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surveys well contemporary Russian/Chechen relations, and documents
the atrocities committed by Russia durring its on-going second war with Chechnya. The author
argues that the only way to preserve Chechnya and its culture is through full independence,
but he doesn't make too clear a case as to how independence would so this. An interesting
consideration nonetheless, especially for semi-autonomous racial minorites in larger political
empires.