When “jihad” is mentioned in connection with the Caucasus, the first place that comes to mind is Chechnya. The entire Caucasus, however, has a long history of local resistance to invading powers, among which should be named the Arabs from the early days of Islam, the Mongols, the Seljuks, the Safavids, and, finally, the Russians. A diversity of scholarly opinions exists concerning whether it is best to view the Russians as simply one in a long line of conquerors, or as marking a new historical m…