"This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the region, covering contemporary history, politics, foreign policy, economy and military issues. It examines and compares each of the ten constituent provinces and discusses the prospects for the future in the region including security concerns relating to the worries about the secession of the RFE, the deterioration of the Pacific Fleet and its nuclear submarines, the state of the military, and migration issues. It will be of interest to students and researchers of Russian studies, politics, and economics among others."--BOOK JACKET.