Introduction

This chapter sets out the book&s;s core claim: The Kremlin has systematically securitised terrorism across domestic, regional and international arenas to consolidate authority at home, extend influence in the post-Soviet space, and legitimise an increasingly assertive foreign policy tied to aspirations of great-power status. It explains what securitisation theory can reveal about Russian foreign policy and where its limits lie. It also outlines the novelty of the book&s;s three-level analytical structure and clarifies the scope of the argument: Securitisation does not explain every Russian decision, but it exposes a durable logic linking domestic control, regional security policy and global messaging. The chapter closes with a brief outline of the main arguments set out in each chapter.