"On its periphery, Russia is surrounded by a new crescent of instability and conflict. In these circumstances, peacekeeping operations have become a primary tool of Russian security policy in the post-Soviet 'space'."--BOOK JACKET. "This study offers an analytical framework for understanding Russian peacekeeping policy. It examines the evolution of Russian peacekeeping strategies towards the conflicts in Moldova, Georgia and Tajikistan, devoting particular attention to the internal and external factors influencing Russian strategies."--BOOK JACKET.