ICDS Publishes New Report Highlighting Circassian and Chechen Dimensions in Global Decolonisation Politics

The International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) has released a new report titled “Agents of Decolonisation” in May 2026, examining the evolving role of non-state actors in contemporary global politics, with particular relevance to Circassian and Chechen diaspora dynamics.

Authored by researcher Klyszcz, the report analyses how decolonisation has transformed from a historical process into an ongoing and contested political framework shaped by a wide range of actors beyond the state. These include diaspora communities, civil society organisations, digital networks, and transnational advocacy groups.

Within this broader analytical framework, the report highlights how certain North Caucasus diaspora communities, including Circassian and Chechen actors, participate in global debates surrounding historical justice, identity, and political recognition. These communities are presented as part of a wider trend in which diaspora-driven mobilisation contributes to shaping international narratives and influencing policy discussions.

The study argues that such actors are increasingly able to operate across informational and political spaces, challenging traditional state-centric understandings of international relations. This reflects a broader shift in which legitimacy, historical interpretation, and political agency are being contested in decentralized and transnational environments.

ICDS further notes that these developments have implications for regional and global security environments, particularly in contexts where historical memory and identity politics intersect with contemporary geopolitical competition.

The report situates these dynamics within wider debates on European security, hybrid influence, and evolving patterns of political mobilisation across multiple regions.

Ultimately, “Agents of Decolonisation” frames decolonisation not as a closed historical chapter, but as an ongoing political field in which various actors — including Circassian and Chechen diaspora communities — play an active and evolving role.

https://icds.ee/static/icds_report_agents_of_decolonisation_klyszcz_may_2026.pdf