News & Events 2004-2005
Professor Sanborn Discusses Chechen Terrorism
Josh Sanborn, a history professor at Lafayette College, spoke about “The Current Russia” as part of the Society of Skeptics lecture series on October 5, 2004, in Cowan Auditorium.
Professor Sanborn challenged the assumption that recent terrorist attacks in Russia are simply part and parcel of world terrorism and linked to Al Qaeda. He laid out the long and bitter history of conflict between Russia and Chechnya: the 19th century conquest and endless guerrilla war; the WWII mass deportation to central Asia ordered by Stalin (Chechens view this as a genocide of sorts, with large portions of their population eliminated en route and later lost to disease, starvation and the elements.); the decision of Boris Yeltsin to “teach Chechen separatists a lesson” in the early 1990s; and finally Putin’s policy of razing their cities to the ground to demonstrate Russian power and crush the separatist movement.
Sanborn emphasized that one should view the Chechen struggle through the prism of national struggles for independence. Further, Putin has used the horrific killing of school children and other hostages as an excuse to further pursue authoritarian policies and complete his almost total domination of Russian politics.
Please check the Calendar and Events section of the Web site for upcoming Society of Skeptics speakers.
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