Carnegie Moscow Center
The recent terrorist attack in Tatarstan has put an end to the illusion that this Russian region, unlike the North Caucasus, will be able to avoid the radicalization of Islam.
The Russian authorities should understand that the radical Islamists are not bandits but rather religious and political opposition. The Kremlin should work to open dialogue between the Muslim community and the state, as well as the inter-Islamic dialogue between the advocates of traditional Islam and their opponents.
As the situation in Syria reaches a head, all actors in the conflict, including Russia, are deeply wound up in the crisis. And with time, challenges will only increase.
While Russia needs immigrants and its neighboring countries need Russia to employ their superfluous workforce, native population and migrants are now in the process of a painful mutual adjustment. Part of the problem is illegal immigration, which is tied to corruption in law enforcement.
The study of the Soviet drive toward collectivization in Kazakhstan and the resulting famine comes with a particular set of challenges.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, Mohamed Morsi, is likely to win the second round of Egypt’s presidential election, with important ramification not only for Egypt but also for the region as a whole.
The situation in Syria has two potential outcomes. There will either be a military victory by the opposition or President Bashar al-Assad will step down. In any case, Assad has lost.
The Islamists’ defeat in Algeria’s recent parliamentary elections is a product of the pragmatism of the ruling Algerian elite and shows that the regime is sensitive to society’s demands. The results are likely an exception to the trend of rising Islamist influence in the Arab world.
Russia's Muslim community is divided, with much of its clergy fighting over leadership. This divide suits the Kremlin, which has no interest in a unified or strong Muslim minority.
The voting results of the South Ossetian presidential election reflect the maturity of society in this republic.