The myriad nationalities in the Soviet Union, with their often conflicting aspirations, are a key factor in the evolution and functioning of the Soviet system. Despite official claims the the nationalities problem has long been solved, the repressed demands of the diverse Soviet peoples have found vehement expression under the stimulus of Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of glasnost. The revival of nationalism and growing ethnic tensions pose a critical challenge to the Soviet leadership, raising questions about the viability of the system itself. In this volume, leading scholars examine the policy implications of the nationalities factor, survey recent developments in the non-Russian republics, and assess the political and social ramifications of a volatile issue that promises to pose one of the stiffest challenges to the success of Gorbachev's reform efforts.