This analysis of post-Soviet nationalism covers both its hegemonic forms, executed by dominant groups like the Russians, and its periphery forms, subscribed to mainly by ethnic minorities with diminished status. Both constitute a major obstacle to civic nation-building and democratic reform.

This book provides a penetrative study of major conflicts resulting from theoretical analysis of such phenomena as post-Soviet new diasporas and forced migration demonstrated by the case of ethnic Russians, ethnic violence illustrated by the Osh conflict in Central Asia, the anatomy of ethnic cleansing traced through the Osset-Ingush conflict, the ambitions of leaders, and the arrogance of force displayed in the Chechen War.