Springer Muslims in Putin's Russia: Discourse on Identity, Politics, and Security

This book offers a novel interpretation of Russian contemporary discourse on Islam and its influence on Russian state policies. It shifts the analytical perspective from the discussion about Russia's Islam as a potential security threat to a more comprehensive view of the relationships of Muslims with Russia as a state and a civilization. The work demonstrates how many Muslims increasingly express a sense of belonging to Russia and are increasingly willing to contribute to state building processes. Review “This book provides a new and original interpretation of Russian contemporary discourse on Islam and its influence on state policies. Scrutinizing a large set of Russian primary sources from different outlets, Simona Merati offers a comprehensive view of the relationships of Muslims with Russia. The book is well-written and rich of fresh ideas and insights for scholars and anybody interested in Russian political developments and on the role of Islam in the contemporary world.” (Giulia Lami, Full Professor of History of Eastern Europe, University of Milan, Italy) “In this superbly researched and written book Simona Merati builds on the increasingly diverse story of Islam in the Russian Federation. The author’s major objective, one that she fulfills admirably, is to move beyond the narrative, largely dominant in the West, that emphasizes the potential security threat presented by the Islamic community in Russia. Drawing primarily upon an exhaustive range of Russian-language sources, she presents a much more complex and nuanced assessment. The reader interested in a comprehensive and balanced treatment of Islam in contemporary Russia will find Muslims in Putin’s Russia an essential source.” (Roger E. Kanet, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Miami, USA) “In Muslims in Putin’s Russia, Simona Merati goes beyond the simplistic notions associated with Islam in Russia. She successfully identifies major causes, effects, and implications of political Islam in the Russian Federation. For those interested in understanding the complex nature, role, and scope of Islam in Russia, the political structure, cultural context, and history of this vast country present major challenges, especially if they mainly rely on Western sources. Dr. Merati offers a diverse array of documents, evidence, and other materials from the Russian, Western, and non-Western sources to provide a more balanced, comprehensive, and well-defined picture of Islam and Muslims in the contemporary Russian Federation, particularly in the Putin’s era.” (Houman A. Sadri, Associate Professor & Coordinator of the Model U.N. Program, University of Central Florida, USA)   From the Back Cover This book offers a novel interpretation of Russian contemporary discourse on Islam and its influence on Russian state policies. It shifts the analytical perspective from the discussion about Russia's Islam as a potential security threat to a more comprehensive view of the relationships of Muslims with Russia as a state and a civilization. The work demonstrates how many Muslims increasingly express a sense of belonging to Russia and are increasingly willing to contribute to state building processes. About the Author Simona E. Merati is a Research Fellow in the Middle East Studies Program at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, USA. Her research focuses on the post-Soviet Russian space, in particular Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.