With the collapse of the USSR, Russia and the fourteen other successor states that border it have had to deal with an unpredictable international environment as they face internal political turmoil and economic chaos. This book surveys relations among the new states and neighboring countries, and identifies the key issues that will determine the long-term economic growth and political stability of this vast and vital region. The authors examine the historical legacies of the new states; the influence of ethnicity and religion; prospects for internal and external economic relations; foreign policy, military forces, and the debate over nuclear weapons; and the impact of Western policy in the region.