Russia, the Baltic and Eurasian Republics, and Central/Eastern Europe

For the layman, the Global Studies series is in a readable, clear, and well written layout. In this volume, a part of the globe vague or unknown for most of us, becomes clear and understandable. The post Soviet world of the middle Asian nations is put in focus. We learn about the governments, economy, and how they relate to both our own, and the new policies of the Russian Federation, that, for instance, not all the Caspian/Black sea oil reserves are controlled by mother Russia. We learn that the old middle Asian Soviet Republics have different relations with the new Russia. We have the background for the Putin/Bush era and what happened during the 90s to formulate present day policy and events. We learn one 'stan' country from the other and how they differ.