Managing Conflict in the Former Soviet Union: Russian and American Perspectives(Belfer Center Studies in International Security)

Since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, numerous ethnic and internal conflicts have emerged within and between the former Soviet republics. Vicious fighting has flared up in Georgia, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Moldova, and other areas, and tensions remain high in many of the newly independent states. Their causes are often misunderstood, and U.S. policymakers have paid little attention to their resolution. This collaborative effort by Russian and American scholars documents Russian policy toward ethno-national conflict in its "near-abroad", American policy toward these conflicts, and the attempts of international organizations to prevent and resolve them. Case studies consider the causes, dynamics, and prospects of conflicts in Latvia, the Crimea, the Trans-dneistr region of Moldova, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and the region of North Ossetia and Ingushetia. Contributors Nadia Alexandrova-Arbatova, Alexei Arbatov, Vladimir Barsamov, Brian J. Boeck, Abram Chayes, Antonia Handler Chayes, Henry Hale, Michael Lysobey, Arthur G. Matirosyan, David Mendeloff, Laura Olson, Olga Osipova, Edward Ozhiganov, Tonya Putnam, George Raach, Brian D. Taylor, Alexander Yusupovsky CSIA Studies in International Security

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Introduction: transition and conflict - Russian and American perspectives on the former Soviet Union, Abram Chayes and Antonia Handler Chayes; a framework for assessing post-Soviet conflicts, Alexei Arbatov. Part 2 Cases of conflict: North Ossetia and Ingushetia - the first clash, Olga Osipova; commentary on North Ossetia and Ingushetia, David Mendeloff; the Crimean Republic - rivalries for control, Edward Ozhiganov; commentary on the Crimean Republic, Michael Lysobey and Tonya Putnam; the Republic of Moldova - Transdniester and the 14th Army, Edward Ozhiganov; commentary on Moldova, Brian D. Taylor; Latvia -discrimination, international organizations and stabilization, Alexander Yusupovsky; commentary on Latvia, Brian J. Boeck; Kazakhstan - how long can ethnic harmony last?, Vladimir Barsamov; commentary on Kazakhstan, Henry Hale; the Republic of Georgia - conflict in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Edward Ozhiganov; commentary on Georgia, Arthur G. Matirosyan. Part 3 What will the future hold?: Russian security interests and dilemmas - an agenda for the future, Alexei Arbatov; horror mirror -Russian perceptions of the Yugoslav conflict, Nadia Amexandrova-Arbatova; the development of US policy toward the former Soviet Union, Abram Chayes et al.

About the Author :
Antonia Chayes is Visiting Professor of International Politics and Law. She taught at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, and the Harvard Law School. She chairs the Project on International Institutions and Conflict Management at the Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Law School.

Review :
" Managing Conflict in the Former Soviet Union offers a unique Russian and Western perspective on an important issue neglected by U.S. policymakers. It will be invaluable for anyone who wants to understand both the sources of post-Soviet ethno-political conflict and how Russian analysts view these conflicts." Fiona Hill , Associate Director, Strenghtening Democratic Institutions Project, Harvard University, author of Russia"s Tinderbox and Back in the USSR