The collapse of the USSR and emergence of 15 new states presents a challenge to the global economy: how to reintegrate the post- Soviet nations into the international economy. The seven essays collected by Robinson (U. of Limerick, Ireland) explain the challenges involved, showing how Soviet legacies have worked against a smooth re-entry into the world economy for Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. They look at how and why global economic forces have had uneven effects in the area, how the area differs from other parts of the post-communist world, and what the prospects and political implications are for the region. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR