Georgia and Pankisi Gorge (CIA Open Source Map).

Radicalization in Georgia: The Impact of the Chechen Wars

By Elena Pokalova

Sharing a border with a territory experiencing an insurgency poses numerous risks for the government. Neighboring violence can spill over to your territory, or insurgency can grow and engulf your citizens.

Such overt implications, though, are not the only possibilities. The impact can be subtle, if your territory serves as a safe haven or a transit zone for insurgents. The movement of people, ideas, and money can impact local populations through introducing new concepts...