Dear Readers,

When talking about the promise of global trade and development, focus is usually directed towards the Pacific Rim or towards Latin America, overlooked is the region where capitalism won its most impacting victory, the Central and Eastern European states of the former Soviet Union. This is a region where the promise of freedom and a better life, idealized by images of the “American Dream” energized millions in their struggle against what amounted to a foreign occupation. Since those early years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Velvet Revolutions, much of that hope has been dampened by the hard realities of global competition, and the re-emergence of ethnic nationalism in the region.

Sofia Chesnokova writes in “Russia: Consolidation of Power and Economic Integration” how the early failures at transitioning to an economically successful democracy have fed into a growing authoritarianism in the Putin administration. In “Battle of Bohemia” Debbie Kaltman takes a look at the recent history of the Roma population in the Czech Republic, and finds that although progress has been made, it has been too slow, and significant prejudices and institutional roadblocks remain. Jonathan Patburg’s study “Running in Circles” discusses the state of HIV/AIDS in Russia, in particular how the traditional attitudes towards the gay community and sexuality in general have prevented effective sex education, which is an important component of the world-wide campaign to control the epidemic.

This issue also features two interviews with UC Davis Faculty specializing in Russia and the Former Soviet States. The International Affairs Journal at UC Davis is very grateful to both Dr William Hagen and Dr Josephine Andrews for offering their insights into the region.

As a special treat, our Forum, which covers all areas of international affairs, includes an article by the former Executive Editor (2005-2006) of the Journal, Kyle Atwell. His article examines how the European Security and Defense Initiative will affect the relationship between the United States and Europe. We also have a very interesting article by Chris Patrick Anderson looking at the underlying causes of the Maoist Rebellion in Nepal and offering some insights into the potential future consequences of that conflict. Finally, in “The Mahalla: Women, the state and the semi-private sphere in post-independence Uzbekistan” Brenda Schuster looks at how the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent search for state legitimacy has adversely affected the lives of women in Uzbekistan.

As always, with this issue we seek to put a spotlight on the academic efforts of student scholars and provoke thoughtful discussion of world events. The topics covered in this edition of the IAJ—state power and the rights of minorities & women, among others—meet and surpass those goals. We hope you enjoy this last issue of the International Affairs Journal at UC Davis

Patrick J. Rogers

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