Citation

McMullen RK. Stud. Conflict Terrorism 1993; 16(3): 201-218.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10576109308435930

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The United States has major national interests at stake in the transition toward a market‐oriented, pluralist system in the Russian Federation. These include the global demonstration effect of a successful transition, having Russia as a cooperative international partner, garnering the mutual economic benefits of increased bilateral trade and investment, and preventing choas and the proliferation of nuclear‐armed ethnic microstates. Ethnic conflict in Russia could derail the transition process, most probably in conjunction with paralysis at the country's political center. Debilitating, lengthy stalemate in Moscow would spur several centrifugal waves in the periphery, likely beginning with the Federation's Republics having non‐Russian majorities and external frontiers. Subsequent separatist efforts would encompass enclave Russian‐majority Republics and other areas. Only if the paralysis at the center were to be so lengthy or severe as to undermine Russian nationalism in favor of regionalism as the dominant element in Russian political culture would non‐Russian separatist movements have much chance of exiting the Russian polity permanently.

Language: en