Military muscle

Since the government and financial crisis of August 1998, Russia and its se curity policy have become turbulent. Economic problems and political instab ility have combined with threatening external developments to allow the res urgence of the military. The appointment of Vladimir Putin as Primes Minist er this August was rapidly followed by Chechen incursions into Dagestan and three bomb explosions in Russian cities, killing almost three hundred peop le. With parliamentary, and presidential elections this month and nextt Jun e, it is vital to understand the nature and limits of this rise of the mili tary.