@article{article_810374, title={A Hard Bargain. Foreign Policy and the Dynamics of the Putin-Kadyrov Relationship [Zor Pazarlık. Dış Politika ve Putin-Kadırov İlişkisinin Dinamikleri]}, journal={Kafkasya Çalışmaları}, volume={6}, pages={43–62}, year={2020}, DOI={10.21488/jocas.810374}, author={Heins, Lilla}, keywords={Kadyrov, North Caucasus, islamic state, foreign figters, caucasus emirate, chechenya}, abstract={<p>This article examines the Governor of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov’s unique relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This research first provides context on the evolution of radical Islamism in Russia’s North Caucasus and Kadyrov’s role in suppressing insurgency and unrest in the republic. The paper then discusses the three pillars of the relationship between Kadyrov and Putin: Kadyrov’s integral role in keeping the peace in Chechnya, the persistence of the relationship despite pressure on Putin to strengthen control over Kadyrov by members of the federal security establishment, and Kadyrov’s exceptional involvement in foreign policy outside the official Russian channels. The paper ultimately argues that Kadyrov is allowed to conduct foreign policy actions apart from the Kremlin because of his role in keeping the peace in Chechnya, and that he has leveraged this opportunity to become even more vital to Russian domestic and international interests, and thus more powerful. <br /> </p>}, number={11}, publisher={Murat TOPÇU}