Table of Contents

Introduction The Dissolution of Empires Empires and the Case of the Soviet Union The Historical Origins of the Russian Nation Russia: National Interests and the Near Abroad The Slavic Successor States: Belarus and Ukraine The Central Asian Successor States The Baltic Successor States Conclusion Selected Bibliography

About the Author

SUSANNE MICHELE BIRGERSON is an independent researcher who began working and writing on Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in the decade after the Soviet Union collapsed.