Islam in Russia Religion, Politics, and Society

Russia's Muslims, numbering some 15 million, constitute far from a homogeneous sociopolitical group. So ... What does it mean to be a Muslim in Russia today? How is the image of Islam constructed, and how do the country's Muslims--and non-Muslims--perceive and react to it? These are the questions that gave rise to this book. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the authors explore in what ways, and with what impact, Islam in contemporary Russia has been shaped by the interactions of the Soviet legacy, local cultures and languages, and external forces. They also address the influence of Islam on Russia's current Middle East policy. Their work is a rich and distinctive contribution to enhancing our understanding of the complexity and fluidity of Muslim identity in post-Soviet Russian politics and society. CONTENTS: Islam in Russian Politics and Society--the Editors. Muslims With and Without Islam--M. Shterin. Islamic Political Ideologies in Post-Soviet Russia--M. Laruelle. Reporting on "Islam" and "Terror" in Russian vs. US Media--S.A. Samoilenko, et al. Perceptions of the Hajj--Z. Khabibullina. Between Russia and Islam--R. Rahimov. The Role of Islam in Russia's Middle East Policy--N. Dreyer. The Impact of Islam on Russia-Iran Relations--H. Azizi. What Have We Learned?--the Editors.