FIGURE 5.17 Photo Essay: Power and Politics in Russia and the Post-Soviet States Since World War II, most conflicts in this region have been in Caucasia and Central Asia. Most occurred just before or shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Since then, pro-democracy movements have emerged in several countries, where they hold the promise of bringing political change without violent conflict. However, their long-term effectiveness remains to be seen. 5.17a Courtesy Noorullah Shirzada/AFP/Getty Images, 5.17b Courtesy Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images, 5.17c Courtesy STR/AFP/Getty Images