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Abstract:
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The objective of this research was to analyze the evolution of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB ) during the twenty -first century , using historical institutionalism as a framework . Three critical junctures were President Putin’s election in 2000 , the Nord -Ost Terrorist Crisis in 2002 , and the Beslan Terrorist Crisis in 2004 ; theories dealing with insecurity , the psychological effects of terrorism , and domestic intelligence were also incorporated . This study found that the expansion of the FSB has provided it with greater potential for carrying out its functions as a domestic intelligence service as well as abusing authority and assisting the state in regime consolidation . Consolidation , in the intelligence community and state , was made possible by legitimate terrorist crises and the perception of threats , which were manipulated by Vladimir Putin’s administration . Public support for consolidation , favoring security over freedom , was mobilized around Putin’s war against terrorism and perceived foreign “threats” within a political system devoid of effective checks against the executive . |