ABSTRACT
All the former union republics of the Soviet Union are now independent, with their own governments, leaders, flags, anthems, currencies, customs, and most of all, problems. The transition to independence has been rough: reborn national aspirations have clashed with economic and demographic realities; the road away from Soviet-style socialism has been uphill; and early hopes for immediate change have been thwarted by the realization that things will undoubtedly get much worse before even starting on the road to improvement. Western aid, an eagerly awaited compensation for abandoning the communist path, has fallen short of expectations. Existing socioeconomic conditions and entrenched attitudes and habits carried over from decades of communist rule have proved to be serious obstacles to market reforms.
