The Foreign Service Journal, April 2007

ernizing “Euro-Islam” to the anti-Sufi New Islamic Movement and the radical Salafis who support the estab- lishment of a fundamentalist Islamic state in areas where Muslims live. The challenge for the Russian government is to work with these different strands of belief and practice to maintain (or in some cases restore) peace and economic development in Russia’s Muslim regions. Unfortunately, the policies undertaken by both Moscow and regional governments are only making an already volatile situation worse, especially in the North Caucasus. These govern- ments often use the specter of radical Islam (universally equated with so-called Wahhabism in Russia) as an excuse to pursue centralizing and authoritarian policies. Furthermore, the authorities have proved themselves unable to distinguish radicals bent on using violent means to overthrow the existing political order from pious Muslims who simply wish to observe the tenets of their faith but have no political agenda. As a result of official abuse and overreaction, many Muslims in the second cat- egory become alienated and shift to the first. In this way, government policies have actually increased the number of supporters of radical Islam and the likelihood of reli- gious violence within Russia. Meanwhile, the authorities have failed to focus on the actual causes of the spread of radical Islam. These are based in the poor economic situation in Muslim regions — especially high rates of unemployment among young men— combined with pervasive corruption and abuse of political power, which have led many to lose faith in their leaders and in the secular society these leaders are seen to represent. Islam seems the only alternative that can combat corruption and abuse by building a righteous society based on faith. It is in this environment that Russian leaders face the difficult task of coming to terms with the Muslim popu- lation. Today, the potential for violence from the radical minority of Russia’s Muslims threatens not only the inhabitants of areas that might be subject to terrorist attacks, but also the security of Russia’s political elites, F O C U S A P R I L 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 41 SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AMERICA S I NCE 1 9 7 1 2007 represents our 37 th year helping to maintain America’s fleet of vehicles throughout the world. All of us at D & M consider it an honor to have worked with all of you through these years. We are aware of the importance of your official and private vehicles, forklifts, generators, tools and equipment. We look forward to continuing this service in a professional manner. We are here to help, just ask! Gary Vlahov www.dmauto.com (516) 822-6662; FAX: (516) 822-5020; E-mail: info@dmauto.com