Terrorism and Power in Russia

Why is it that in Russia, crises so often become framed as terrorism—and what does this tell us about power, politics and state control? This book examines how the Kremlin has used the language of terrorism to shape Russia’s domestic, regional, and international politics, from the Chechen Wars to Syria and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Combining securitisation theory with a three-level analysis, it traces how securitising actors and speech acts reframed terrorism as an existential threat, enabling exceptional measures at home, influence across Russia’s near abroad, and claims to counterterrorism leadership internationally. Using securitisation theory, the book follows the rhetoric through laws, presidential addresses, media narratives, and policy outcomes, showing how terrorism securitisation patterns forged in Chechnya travelled into Syria and Ukraine. It offers a clear, system-based analysis of Moscow’s securitisation of the terrorism threat, drawing on verified official documents and original Russian sources to explain how security talk becomes state practice.

This book will interest scholars, students, and practitioners of Russian politics, security studies, and international relations, as well as readers in media and communication, area studies, and contemporary history. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses on foreign policy, terrorism and counterterrorism, and propaganda, and will be useful to policymakers, analysts, and journalists seeking a rigorous guide to Russia’s securitisation of terrorism.