Militant Right-Wing Extremism in Putin’s Russia: Legacies, Forms and Threats (Post-Soviet Politics)

Militancy continues to be characteristic of many supporters of the Russian far right, encompassing a belligerent rhetoric, a strong perception of participants as political warriors and often the use of physical violence. How serious a threat does Russian militant right-wing extremism pose to Russia and the World, and how has the level of threat changed over time? This book addresses this question by exploring right-wing extremism in Russia, its historical context and its resurgence over the past thirty years. Outlining the legacies and forms presented by current right-wing extremism, with a particular focus on militant extremism, it employs a historical, descriptive method to analyse the threats and risks posed. Presented within the framework of research on extremism and political violence related to the Russian political thought, the book outlines the key criteria of identifying threats, such as the level of violence, ability to gain supporters and penetration of governing elites. Primarily aimed at researchers and academics in political science, extremism, security studies and the history of Russia and Eastern, Central and South-East Europe, this book will also be of interest to political journalists and practitioners in international security. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 5 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Contents 8 List of tables 10 Acknowledgements 11 Introduction 12 1. Russia’s militant right: Notes on the historical, systemic and ideological conceptualisation of a specific political actor 15 2. The Russian militant right 35 3. Militant right-wing extremism from the beginning of the Putin era to the war in Ukraine (2000–2018) 57 4. Right-wing extremist subcultures in the Russian Federation 92 5. Terrorism committed by militant Russian nationalists and violent racist gangs 118 6. Russian militant nationalism and the war in Donbass 137 7. Contemporary pro-Putin Russian militant nationalism in Russia and Ukraine 163 8. Contemporary anti-Putin militant right-wing nationalism 192 9. Russia’s support for militant nationalism abroad 220 Conclusion: The Russian militant right and Vladimir V. Putin’s conservative authoritarianism 246 References 259 Index 286 This book explores right-wing extremism in Russia, its historical context, and its resurgence over the past thirty years.