Russia's Contribution as a Partner in the War on Terrorism

Until the end of the Cold War, terrorism wasa phenomenon practically unknown in the SovietUnion. The chaotic disappearance of theUnion of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)resulted, among other developments, in twowars in North Caucasus and subsequent wavesof terrorism in the region and terrorist attacksin Moscow. The demise of the USSR also weakenedthe organizations responsible for the securityand law and order of Russia-a phenomenonrarely understood in the West.- Russia and the United States are the prioritytargets for many radical Islamic groups. Thetwo countries should be able, in theory at least, to cooperate closely against many terroristgroups. However, several issues, which eachcountry sees as important, make this cooperationvery difficult and occasionally impossible.- In the post-communist, unipolar world, theUnited States was the dominant power, whichpaid little attention to the views and opinionsof other countries. This attitude was particularlystrongly resented in Russia, accustomedto its status of an equal security and militarypower. The United States failed to appreciatethe changes in the Russian Federation and stilldoes not always accept that repetitive publiccriticism of Russia's democratic deficit can becounterproductive.(NOTE: This monograph was written before the 2014 Winter Games at Sochi, Russia.)