RUSSIA AND THE “NEAR ABROAD”

Lessons explore the efforts of post–communist Russia to overcome and move beyond the distortions of the Soviet era. Lesson one, "The Legacy of Communism," captures the cautious shift to a new economic order. Lesson two, "The Quest for Democracy," assesses the challenges facing Russia as it attempts to develop a more democratic political system. The final lesson, "Russia and Its Neighbors," deals with the challenges faced while resolving internal ethnic and national conflict.