International experts consider the experience and potential for cooperation in the subregions of the former Soviet Union. They assess the extent to which cooperative processes can play a role in assisting CIS states to meet economic and political goals, and investigate how the development of cooperative relations between groups of states might increase stability and security within the CIS. Topics include trade initiatives in Central Asia, the Russia-Belarus Union, ethnicity and subregional relations, and Islam and transnationalism. Includes b&w maps, a list of acronyms, and a chronology of agreements signed in the region during the 1990s. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)