This volume investigates the primary geopolitical, economic, and security shifts that defined the global landscape during 1997 and early 1998. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) utilizes its extensive network of analysts to synthesize complex international data into a coherent framework. The text argues that understanding these specific regional developments is critical for interpreting the broader trajectory of global stability and foreign policy during the late twentieth century.

Experts and researchers frequently cite this publication as a foundational historical record for understanding the strategic climate of the late 1990s. The text is recognized for its dense, objective analysis and remains a standard reference for scholars studying post-Cold War international relations.