The dissolution of the Soviet Union has transformed the 25 million eth
nic Russians living outside the Russian Federation into a new Russian
diaspora. This situation represents a potential threat to political st
ability among and within the Soviet successor states. Right-wing polit
ical groups in Russia pose as defenders of the national rights of the
diaspora. If they were able to induce the Russian Army to intervene in
the non-Russian states on behalf of the diaspora, a situation dangero
usly similar to the Yugoslav conflict could arise. The problem of the
diaspora can be neutralized through migration, border regulations and/
or the establishment of regimes for minority rights. The stabilizing/d
estabilizing potential of each of these options is evaluated here with
reference to the recent post-Soviet debate on the issue. It is argued
that large-scale migration aimed at creating optimally 'pure' ethnic
nation-states may easily unleash uncontrollable chain reactions. Most
non-Russian successor states are categorically opposed to border regul
ations; many Russian politicians have qualms as well. They are, inter
alia, afraid that if the principle of the popular will is used to dete
rmine territorial issues, it might lead to a dismantling of the multi-
ethnic Russian Federation. The least destabilizing option seems to be
minority protection. The West could contribute to a viable human right
s regime in the CIS by applying a differentiated trade and aid policy
and giving the respective governments material incentives to respect t
he rights of the minorities. In any case, the leadership in the non-Ru
ssian successor states should, in their own interest, avoid providing
the irredentist parties in Russian politics with arguments and sympath
izers.