The Post-Soviet Handbook

The Soviet Union's demise in 1991 resulted in 15 independent nations, each faced with enormous challenges -- radical economic restructuring, crime, corruption, even civil war. But it also spawned the formation of thousands of dynamic new organizations by public-spirited citizens seeking to make their societies more humane, economies more productive, environments cleaner, and legal systems more just. This thoroughly revised edition of The Post-Soviet Handbook documents the enormous variety of grassroots efforts in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, providing concise descriptions and accurate contact information for these diverse organizations. Many of the new entries represent projects based in provincial centers, reflecting powerful trends toward autonomy and decentralization. Internet users will find a wealth of new resources. A new element is the inclusion of projects based in Canada. Whether the issues are the environment, the disabled, the excesses of "wild capitalism, " human rights, or ethnic conflict, The Post-Soviet Handbook shows how grassroots self-organization accomplishes real change.