Maria Raquel Freire - Conflict and Security in the Former Soviet Union: The Role of the OSCE

Series Editor: Sai Felicia Krishna-Hensel
Interdisciplinary Global Studies Research Initiative, Center for Business and Economic Development, Auburn University, Montgomery, USA

The Global Interdisciplinary Studies Series reflects a recognition that globalization is leading to fundamental changes in the world order, creating new imperatives and requiring new ways of understanding the international system. It is increasingly clear that the next century will be characterized by issues that transcend national and cultural boundaries, shaped by competitive forces and features of economic globalization yet to be fully evaluated and understood.

Comparative and comprehensive in concept, this series explores the relationship between transnational and regional issues through the lens of widely applicable interdisciplinary methodologies and analytic models. The series consists of innovative monographs and collections of essays representing the best of contemporary research, designed to transcend disciplinary boundaries in seeking to better understand a globalizing world.

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The New Millennium: Challenges and Strategies for a Globalizing World
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The United States and Europe: Policy Imperatives in a Globalizing World
Edited by Howard M. Hensel
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After four decades of bipolarity, the end of the Cold War left the prospect of a peaceful Europe where the values of democracy and cooperation would prevail, as stated in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) 1990 Paris Charter.1 New states have emerged following the collapse of the Soviet empire and Yugoslavia. New conceptions of security have taken shape, adding to politicomilitary security a socio-economic and cultural dimension. International organizations dealing with security issues in Europe have had to face up to demands to reformulate and adapt to the new conditions. But confronted with inadequate procedures, unclear task definition and the search for a place in the new Europe, the rapid succession of events has not allowed the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe and the CSCE2 time for the formulation of proper responses.

Events since 1990 have taken a different course from the peaceful one that was expected. Within the newly independent republics of the former Soviet Union, economic, social, political and historic factors have contributed to tense situations which, in particular in the Republics of Moldova, Georgia, Tajikistan and the Nagorno-Karabakh region, have escalated into armed conflict. Within the Russian Federation, Chechnya also became an area of conflict. Although these were not so much the result of external aggression, but rather the result of inner problems, these conflicts have had a disturbing effect in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) area and continue to do so. Although there are factors which point to a long-term optimism, such as the new republics commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law, as stated at the time of their accession to the CSCE, the difficulties emerging from the transition to liberal principles and market oriented economies are enormous. Social problems marked by increasing unemployment, poverty and organized crime are common. Problematic living conditions and the difficult implementation of reforms have generated feelings of discontent. These new risks have added to the emergent transfrontier problems. Drugs and arms trading, people trafficking, environmental, technological and economic imbalances are issues of concern.