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S. Pasandide,
Postgraduate student of the Department of Political Science and Sociology, MPGU SALAFITES AND STRUGGLE AGAINST RADICALIZATION IN RUSSIA
Religious-political movement of Salafi is the radical militant Wahhabi movement, aimed at establishing an Islamic model of social order by the methods of deterrence, without taking into account national and historical peculiarities of a region. They have already been waging a war against the federal government in Daghestan and Ingushetia, having a strong underground in Kabardino-Balkaria and other republics of the North Caucasus. In addition, the position of the Salafites have strengthened in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, where they had an opportunity to preach in many mosques of these republics. In recent years, representatives of this movement have strengthened their positions in Moscow and considerably broadened their activities. Russia will face a gloomy future in case of the further development of this ideology in the country and an increase in the number of its followers. The wave of terrorist attacks does not decrease in the troubled regions of the federation, moving even to relatively calm regions from time to time, but this wave may grow without doubt. There is a danger of the emergence of the radical elements at the level of political relations in regions, such as Daghestan, Bashkortostan and Tatarstan.
Thus, the radical elements will be able to influence the authorities of certain regions, with a view to building an Islamic state (it is such model of their political system). If this scenario is implemented, there is no point to speak of Russia's territorial integrity.
All available resources of power: legal, ideological, and others should be opposed to dissemination of Salafism in Russia. The methods
of struggle against this threat should be many and varied, since only in this case will the authorities be able to achieve real success and stay as a real political leader.
The issue of banning Wahhabism has been raised in Russian society more than once, but it was not resolved because certain political circles feared to spoil relations with Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, this question should be decided in a political aspect, and its solution will be justified due to the growing religious and political confrontation in Russia and the policies pursued by Saudi Arabia, which is against Russian interests in the Middle East, particularly in Syria. Its policies could not be called otherwise than hostile. Sound-minded citizens will not oppose a ban on Salafism-Wahhabism, as this religious-political aggressive course denies traditional values of Russia.
Perhaps, the secret services should carry out operational work in the Saudi, Qatari and Kuwaiti direction to identify radical and dangerous elements which act under the cover of various commercial and charity organizations. In addition, it is necessary to restrict the sending of students to educational centers in those countries because young people come back with views contradicting traditional Islam and become a sort of "agents of influence" of the Arab monarchies and are sometimes recruited as their special services' agents.
The entire social and economic policy of the Russian authorities in the country's troubled regions, particularly in the North Caucasus, is an important factor in the fight against Islamic radicalism. Those people, especially young men, who are inclined to take up and adhere to the Salafite ideas, should have an alternative way of material, social and spiritual realization.
First of all, it is necessary to raise the educational level of the local imams and spiritual leaders and expel the persons discrediting their ranks. The Russian Government should support the Council of
Muftis of Russia, as well as other structures, preaching traditional Islam, and promote their activities. It is necessary to pay more attention to the work of the mass media popularizing the traditional religious beliefs in the fight against radical ideas.1
Some religious leaders are urging the authorities to establish contacts with the Salafites, but such contacts lead to negative consequences in the development of relations with the followers of traditional Islam. Now the Russian authorities have to carry on extensive work in three areas: training, education and social work of mosques2. This involves the entire Muslim educational system - from weekend courses and madrasahs up to Islamic universities.
Then there is educational work, which is a competitive alternative to foreign sectarian tendencies. It concerns the image of Islam, Muslims and the Islamic clergy in general. Another important point is the development of the proper Islamic mass media with the support of the authorities - the publication of pre-revolutionary theological and scientific works on this religion in Russian.
Another area is the promotion of social service, and, perhaps, this is the most important sphere. The humanistic social doctrine is extremely important to modern traditional Islam. Social problems are the main ones in solving the issue of Muslim radicalism. This is the root of and the reason for young people joining the radical groups.
For today only the mass media can preach the traditional form of Islam among Muslims, covering large audiences and opposing Wahhabism and radical movements which rebel against traditional Russian values. This is the shortest way to improve the low level of religious education, which has become the most important factor for the success of radical ideologies. Traditional Islam in Russia has a long and glorious history, allowing peaceful coexistence of all other confessions in this country. It is such Islam, strong ideologically and properly
presented in mosques and the mass media by honest and well-educated preachers that will be the most effective means to combat Salafites and Wahhabis.
Notes
1. A. Evstratotv. 2013. Salafizm v Rossii i SNG. [Salafizm in Russia and the CIS.] http://www.iran.ru
2. E.Primakov. 2013. Neotlozhnaya k resheniu problema [Pressing Problem to Be Solved]. http://www.rg.ru
"Vlast", Moscow, 2014, № 4, pp. 139-141.
E. Shcherbina,
Ph. D. (Political sciences), Institute of State Management at the Government of the Karachayevo-Circassian Republic
MONITORING THE ETHNOPOLITICAL SITUATION IN THE KARACHAYEVO-CIRCASSIAN REPUBLIC
The Karachayevo-Circassian Republic, one of the parts of the North-Caucasian Federal okrug (region), was formed in 1992. Its Constitution was adopted on March 5, 1996, which noted the specific features of its functioning and development. The leading bodies of power in the republic are formed with due account of national representation.1 Article 11 of the Constitution noted that the official languages of the republic are Abazin, Karachay, Nogai, Russian and Circassian. Article 109 sets the rules of the formation of bodies of local self-government whose structure is determined by the local population independently. Changes of borders of territories are allowed only on consent of their residents.
