This comprehensive exploration of the new international environment examines not only traditional political-military concerns but also economic, ethnic, and other factors in the security environment of Russia and its neighbors to the west, (Vol. 1), south (Vol. 2), and east (Vol. 3). This dynamic approach takes account of both internal and external aspects of security problems and their interplay. International authors participate in considering each problem from all relevant points of view.

Preface; The Security Environment in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Rajan Menon; Part 1 Traditional Security; Chapter 1 The Military and Political Security Landscape in Russia and the South, Roy Allison; Chapter 2 Traditional Russian Security Interests in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Andrei V. Zagorski; Part 2 Economic Features of Security; Chapter 3 Economics and Energy in the South, Hendrik Spruyt, Laurent Ruseckas; Chapter 4 Russian-Southern Economic Interaction, Natalia V. Zubarevich, Yuri E. Fedorov; Part 3 Territorial and Ethnic Disputes; Chapter 5 Southern Tears: Dangerous Opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Ronald Grigor Suny; Chapter 6 Contagious Ethnic Conflicts and Border Disputes Along Russia's Southern Flank, Emil A. Pain; Part 4 Non-Traditional Challenges; Chapter 7 New Threats in Central Asia and the Caucasus, Nancy Lubin; Chapter 8 Non-Traditional Threats, Challenges, and Risks in the Former Soviet South, Irina D. Zviagelskaia, Vitali V. Naumkin; conclusion Regional Security for Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, Yuri E. Fedorov, Ghia Nodia;