Terrorism and Power in Russia: The Empire of (In)Security and the Remaking of Politics

This book examines how Kremlin has used the language of terrorism to shape Russia’s domestic, and international politics, from the Chechen wars to Syria and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.Combining securitisation theory with a three-level analysis, it traces how securitising actors acts reframed terrorism as an existential threat.

Anastassiya Mahon is a political scientist of security and authoritarian politics whose work examines how (in)security narratives consolidate power, police dissent, and justify intervention. Her research spans Russia, Eurasia, and the Middle East, with interests in digital repression, memory politics, and the strategic use of humanitarian language in conflict and foreign policy. She has published in Critical Studies on Security, International Studies Perspectives, theJournal of Illiberalism Studies, and the Conversation. Based in the UK, she teaches international relations, security studies and Russian politics.