Unlike the other two Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia, which have only known independence in the 20th century, Lithuania shared with Poland a vast empire in the 14th and 15th centuries. Keeping its history in mind, Ashbourne (who works as a defense analyst for the Centre for European Reform, a London think-tank) outlines Lithuania's situation from 1991 to 1994, by separately focusing on its domestic policy, foreign relations, defense and security policy, and economy. She finds that if the political situation in Russia remains constant, the independence of Lithuania is assured. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)