Defected and loyal? A case study of counter-defection mechanisms inside Chechen paramilitaries

Souleimanov, E. A., Aliyev, H. and Ratelle, J.-F. (2018) Defected and loyal? A case study of counter-defection mechanisms inside Chechen paramilitaries. Terrorism and Political Violence, 30(4), pp. 616-636. (doi: 10.1080/09546553.2016.1194270)

Abstract

Can former insurgents in the service of counterinsurgent paramilitaries be considered a perfectly loyal force? What mechanisms may help to deter subsequent defections of individuals who have already “betrayed” once? Drawing on a unique set of primary data, this article examines the effective counter-defection practices of Chechnya’s pro-Moscow paramilitaries toward prospective defectors from among ex-insurgents. It explores three interwoven mechanisms employed with various intensities to avert “double defections” at the peak of the locally fought counterinsurgency in Chechnya from 2000 to 2005. These mechanisms are: a) extrajudicial executions of recidivists and their relatives, b) initiation violence targeting insurgents’ relatives, and c) disclosure of the identities of defected insurgents who were responsible for killing insurgents in combat to the families of slain insurgents.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Aliyev, Dr Huseyn
• Authors: Souleimanov, E. A., Aliyev, H., and Ratelle, J.-F.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Central and East European Studies
• Journal Name: Terrorism and Political Violence
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 0954-6553
• ISSN (Online): 1556-1836
• Published Online: 11 July 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Taylor and Francis
• First Published: First published in Terrorism and Political Violence 30(4): 616-636
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy