Book Description

Updated from the 1995 edition, examines 27 countries in central and eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and central Asia, which is considered a unified region because of its heritage of communism and Russian hegemony and its current experience of economic and political upheaval. Part one contains 12 articles on different aspects of the region as a whole, ranging from political and economic issues to environmental and social surveys. For each state, the second section provides articles on the geography, history, and economy. A directory presents the constitution and data on the government, media, religion, finance, trade and industry, culture, education, the environment, defense, energy, and social welfare. A map, chronology, statistical survey, and bibliography are also included. The third part offers biographical profiles of over 250 important political figures in the region. No index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR