The Islamic factor of political conflicts in the North Caucasus: Dagestan and Chechnya in 1991-1999

The paper examines the role of the Islamic factor in the armed conflicts by case study of Chechnya and Dagestan. The authors discuss the mechanisms of Islam politicization, confrontation of Sufis and Salafists. It is concluded that there is mutual influence between the events in Chechnya and Dagestan. The article shows the formation of new forms of religious identity among citizens of the republics in 1991-1999.