This unique compilation on the Eurasian states of the former Soviet Union introduces the little-known, yet strategic heartland of the world. Some of the data included has never before been published; none has been assembled in such a manner in which interrelationships of culture, history, diplomacy, economics, and defense are so clear and understandable.

Following an overview of the Soviet Union and its recent history, the guide examines each region and each state. Data is provided on the political structure and policies, the military, and the economy. The remnants of the Soviet Union,...

Colonel David T. Twining and his colleagues look at the impact of glasnost and the collapse of the Soviet system on the military. The case study approach used allows for in-depth examination of a number of key issues. Within the former USSR, the remarkable record of sacrifice and valor by women in wartime has not been matched by equal opportunity during peacetime, where they are effectively excluded from meaningful military careers. The KGB, the world's largest security and intelligence organization, proved to be among the most resistant to reform, and this, the book contends, appears to...

This unique compilation on the Eurasian states of the former Soviet Union introduces the little-known, yet strategic heartland of the world. Some of the information included has never before been published; none has been assembled in such a manner in which interrelationships of culture, history, diplomacy, economics, and defense are so clear and understandable.

Following an overview of the Soviet Union and its recent history, the guide examines each region and each state. Information is provided on the political structure and policies, the military, and the economy. The remnants of the...