An Ethnohistorical dictionary of the Russian and Soviet empires /

The recent ethnic and regional conflicts in the lands of the former Soviet Union have brought the complex divisions in Central Eurasia to the world's attention. This source seeks to answer a critical need among students and scholars for historical background on the peoples of the old Russian and Soviet empires in order to understand the roots of the current turmoil--a daunting task. This work has alphabetically arranged entries on more than 450 ethnic groups. The editors address the problem of identifying the myriad subgroupings and alternative names through the generous use of "see" references. Essays vary in length from a quarter page to several pages. The focus is on historical development and the relationship to other peoples and the central state. Each entry includes a list of sources consulted. For the most part, coverage extends through the collapse of the USSR in 1991. The appendixes give percentage breakdowns in several categories: e.g., groups in each region, proportion of the general population, and religion. Overall, this is a highly useful source for overviews of the various ethnic groupings and for identifying English-language sources dealing with the issue. Its reliance on secondary and English sources and lack of primary source references limit its usefulness for specialists. Recommended for academic libraries supporting Russian Studies programs. W. F. Bell; University of North Texas