This article compares Islamist and nationalist violence in Russia's North Caucasus using new data. It finds that Islamist groups' attacks are less sensitive to government counterinsurgency tactics than those of nationalists. Specifically, selective force suppresss nationalists but not Islamists.

The key finding stems from differences in rebels' support structures: Nationalist movements rely more on local populations, while Islamist insurgents maintain operations despite limited local backing.

These insights offer crucial understanding for governments navigating similar conflicts elsewhere and for political science research on rebel motivations.