ABSTRACT

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. 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 have escalated into armed conflict. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analyzes conflict and security in the former Soviet Union and the role of the OSCE in the area. It focuses on the evolution of the OSCE from Conference to Organization, addressing the new instruments, mechanisms and procedures adopted by the organization to face the post-Cold War challenges.