Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States deals with the twelve independent republics that became members of the Commonwealth of Independent States following the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1992.

The eleven republics which constitute the membership of the Commonwealth of Independent States have much in common, in spite of their many different languages, religions and cultures. All were part of the Russian Empire for at least a century; all were part of the Soviet Union from its inception. Perhaps most important, their economic and political cultures were essentially formed during the communist era as a part of the industrialization that guided the Soviet State in the 74 years of its existence.

How do the former Soviet republics that now constitute the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) interact with each other and with other regional and world powers? What are the conceptual foundations, mechanisms, and main directions of each member state's foreign policy? What role do economic and political factors play? Answering these questions and more in this systematic, comprehensive survey, a team of in-country experts sheds important light on the complex regional and international interactions of the CIS states in the twenty-first century.

Surveying all referendums around the world since 1793, Dr Qvortrup and contributors provide a thorough account of why and when citizens have been asked to vote on policy issues. Referendums Around the World is essential reading for political scientists and others interested in direct democracy as well as representative government.

The former Soviet republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) generate a significant and growing amount of work for the major Western and CIS regional international arbitral institutions. This book, a country-by-country analysis of regulation and practice of international arbitration in ten CIS jurisdictions, offers the first comprehensive review of commercial arbitration in the region. It also analyses notable developments in the use of arbitration mechanisms contained in bilateral and multilateral investment treaties affecting the region. The book provides not only a detailed analysis of the law, but also insight from local practitioners into the culture of arbitration and how the law is applied in each jurisdiction. Jurisdictions covered include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. In addition to detailed discussion of the particular features of arbitral practice in each jurisdiction, contributions cover the following issues and topics: • arbitrability of disputes and public policy; • arbitral procedure; • recognition and enforcement of commercial and investor-state arbitration awards; • implementation of the UNCITRAL Model Law and other instruments affecting arbitral practice and procedure; • statistics from key arbitration institutions; • adherence to the ICSID, New York and key regional conventions relevant to arbitration; • relevant regulations, cases as well as applicable bilateral investment treaties; • law and practice related to investor-state arbitration; and • role of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union. An informative introductory chapter provides detailed discussion and analysis of historic and current trends affecting arbitration practice among the CIS countries, including the role of regional conventions relatively unknown in the West. As a comprehensive overview of international arbitration in this burgeoning region, this book has no peers. It is sure to be highly valued and used by lawyers, arbitrators, and academics concerned with alternative dispute resolution, as well as by arbitration institutions, companies, states, and individuals engaged in arbitration.

This book investigates the economic, political and cultural factors that influence regional economic integration processes as well as international political cooperation in the area of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The authors analyze market integration manifested in interregional trade, investment and service connections. Taking a constructivist approach, they shed new light on how national, ethnic, religious and linguistic factors as well as systems of government, political regimes and models of leadership shape foreign-policy decision-making in various post-Soviet countries.

This book examines a major concern in international security: the nature and causes of conflict in the former Soviet Union.