The aim of this book is to provide a systematic analysis of the Soviet Union's major nationalities in light of the new developments under perestroika. It deals in detail with 20 of the 140 nationalities, and looks at how they have been affected by, and responded to glasnost.

Includes maps of: Soviet Federation; Transcaucasia; Ethnic and Linguistic Minorities in Tadzhikistan.

Nationalities policy for Lenin to Gorbachev /Graham Smith -- The Russians : the dominant nationality / Simon Dixon -- Estonians / Riina Kionka -- Latvians / Graham Smith -- Lithuanians / V. Stanley Vardys -- Ukrainians / Peter J.S. Duncan -- Belorussians / Ralph S. Clem -- Moldavians / Jonathan Eyal -- Armenians / Edmund M. Herzig -- Azerbaijanis / Tamara Dragadze -- Georgians / Robert Parsons -- Kazakhs / Ingvar Svanberg -- Uzbeks / Sharin Akiner -- Turkmen / Annette Bohr -- Kirgiz / Simon Crisp -- Tadzhiks / John Payne -- Volga Tatars / Marie Bennigsen Broxup -- Buryats / Caroline Humphrey -- Yakut / Piers Vitebsky -- Crimean Tatars / Edward J. Lazzerini -- Jews / Yoram Gorlizki.