This page is devoted to Eduard Ponarin's IPF project "Threats to Open Society in Tatarstan"

Project summary

The project is devoted to emergence of radical Islam in Tatarstan, a Muslim republic of the Russian Federation.  Although the current situation is generally stable, there is a potential that could destabilize that republic in the future.  My studies led me to believe that radicalization of Islam is driven by the anomie arising from the difficult social transformation, diffusion of radical ideas from the Middle East, competition between local clerics for power and money, and  heavy-handed policies of the Republic's government towards those imams who it considers not loyal enough or too independent.  The first two drivers are recognized by both the federal and the provincial government. The next one cannot probably be changed at all.  The last driver is not well recognized but can be remedied.  My research will result in policy recommendations that I am going to present to the expert community and policy makers of Tatarstan.

The case of Tatartsan is chosen because it is one of the most secularized Muslim republics of the Russian Federation, yet even there the post-Soviet religious renaissance resulted in some radicalization, involving young people.  My analysis of the situation in that republic is meant to elucidate the general problems in Russia's Muslim autonomies.

Eduard Ponarin's resume

Project description in detail

Issue Paper

Policy Paper

Policy Brief

©2006   Eduard Ponarin