This collection examines the social, economic, and political evolution of the South Caucasian states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The contributors analyze the creation of new national identities and value systems, institution-building, and the influence of regional and international actors.

Introduction /Shireen T. Hunter -- Part I : Country Studies. Twenty-five years on : Armenia's difficult period of state-building / Richard Giragosian -- Azerbaijan twenty-five years after independence : accomplishments and shortcomings / Eldar Mamedov -- Georgia's pro-Western policies : an obsession or a pragmatic choice? / Ghia Nodia -- Part II : Policies of International and Regional Actors. US policy toward the South Caucasus : reform, prosperity, democracy / Richard Kauzlarich -- Russian policy toward the South Caucasus : security, unity, and diversity / Sergey Markedonov -- The South Caucasus in the European Union's perspective : not a single region / Nona Mikhelidze -- Turkey's policy toward the South Caucasus : expectations, failures, and achievements / Bülent Aras -- Iran and the changing geopolitics of the South Caucasus / Mohaiddin Mesbahi and Mohammad Homayounvash -- Middle East actors and politics : impact on the South Caucasus / Shireen T. Hunter -- Conclusion / Shireen T. Hunter.