Risks of religious extremism in the political and confessional processes (Tatarstan case)

The article reveals the risks of religious extremism in the political and religious processes in the case of the Republic of Tatarstan. Manifestations of alternative trends, namely confessional tolerance and extremism in the Muslim public opinion, are disclosed. The main stages and factors of growth of religious extremism in the region are established. The author determines reasons of inconsistency of the policy of authorities of Tatarstan in the religious sphere. The rise of religious radicalism is caused by objective reasons, such as social stratification, the influx of migrants from Central Asia, Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus, and also the struggle for power within the Ummah in the region. As subjective factors in the growth of radicalism the author calles the growing number of pilgrims to the holy places of Islam and the students of foreign Islamic religious centers, infiltration of foreign radical preachers and adherents of Salafi and syncretic extremist movements. The balance of trends of confessional conflict and the peaceful integration of society in the political and religious processes in Tatarstan since the beginning of the 2000s is developing by negative scenario. It requires a cardinal change of policy to counter religious extremism, needs tactic and consistent support of moderate trends in the Islamic community by federal and regional authorities.