Walter Richmond is Assistant Professor of Russian studies at Occidental College, Los Angeles, US. His research interests include Islamic movements in the former Soviet Union, ethnopolitics in the North Caucasus and the politics of oil in the Caspian Basin.

'Of great interest to scholars and those active in politics focused on the Caucasus and Central Asia. Summing up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.' - A.V. Isaenko, CHOICE July 2009 Vol. 46 No. 11'This historic analysis is based on an impressive catalogue of sources including many post-Soviet and some older Russian studies, documents and statistics. The book is valuable for those who wish to navigate this extremely complex, diverse and conflict-prone region, which remains isolated even today.' - Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, August 2009'...the book is remarkable in many respects. First and foremost, it is the most comprehensive book thus far comparing the histories of Circassian and Karachai-Balkar nations. Secondly, while some research has been published on various Northwest Caucasian groups over the last decade, this book ties many topics of the existing scholarship together' - TIMOFEY AGARIN, Europe-Asia Studies,Volume 61 Issue 9, 2009

• Introduction 1. Origins 2. Culture 3. Struggles for Independence, 1300-1760 4. The Caucasus War 5. Incorporation into Imperial Russia 6. The Soviet Period 7. The Rise of Nationalism 8. The Northwest Caucasus in the Twenty-First Century. Conclusions: Possible Futures

Walter Richmond is Assistant Professor of Russian studies at Occidental College, Los Angeles, US. His research interests include Islamic movements in the former Soviet Union, ethnopolitics in the North Caucasus and the politics of oil in the Caspian Basin.

'Of great interest to scholars and those active in politics focused on the Caucasus and Central Asia. Summing up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.' - A.V. Isaenko, CHOICE July 2009 Vol. 46 No. 11'This historic analysis is based on an impressive catalogue of sources including many post-Soviet and some older Russian studies, documents and statistics. The book is valuable for those who wish to navigate this extremely complex, diverse and conflict-prone region, which remains isolated even today.' - Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, August 2009'...the book is remarkable in many respects. First and foremost, it is the most comprehensive book thus far comparing the histories of Circassian and Karachai-Balkar nations. Secondly, while some research has been published on various Northwest Caucasian groups over the last decade, this book ties many topics of the existing scholarship together' - TIMOFEY AGARIN, Europe-Asia Studies,Volume 61 Issue 9, 2009

• Introduction 1. Origins 2. Culture 3. Struggles for Independence, 1300-1760 4. The Caucasus War 5. Incorporation into Imperial Russia 6. The Soviet Period 7. The Rise of Nationalism 8. The Northwest Caucasus in the Twenty-First Century. Conclusions: Possible Futures