Routledge Miniature Empires: A Historical Dictionary of the Newly Independent States

The 20th century's most protracted conflict, the Cold War, also provided the longest and most stable peace in the history of the modern world--a fragile peace that came at the price of national freedom for many people. With the demise of the Cold War, new nearly-unknown countries, long ignored or suppressed, came to the attention of the world, as ethnic and national conflicts, rooted in the multi-ethnic populations of the newly independent states, emerged. From Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia to Eritrea and Uzbekistan, Miniature Empires provides an essential guide to the states recognized since 1989 and the "nations" that dwell within their borders. Miniature Empires is the first reference book to address the post-Cold War nationalist resurgence by focusing on the nations within the new nation-states--both the core nationalities and the national minorities. Each article highlights the historical, political, social, and economic evolution of the new nations. Outstanding Academic Book Review 'this historical dictionary provides an excellent source of information not easily found elsewhere ... Highly recommended for all college and university libraries.' CHOICE 'Without doubt an impressive amount of information, not terribly easy to find elsewhere, is collected within these pages ... Minahan's cleverly conceived dictionary, besides offering a valuable reference source, also gives rise to serious thought.' Reference Reviews