We review the effective field theories (EFTs) developed for few-nucleon
systems. These EFTs are controlled expansions in momenta, where certain
(leading-order) interactions are summed to all orders. At low energies, an EFT
with only contact interactions allows a detailed analysis of renormalization in
a non-perturbative context and uncovers novel asymptotic behavior. Manifestly
model-independent calculations can be carried out to high orders, leading to
high precision. At higher energies, an EFT that includes pion fields justifies
and extends the traditional framework of phenomenological potentials. The
correct treatment of QCD symmetries ensures a connection with lattice QCD.
Several tests and prospects of these EFTs are discussed.Comment: 55 pages, 18 figures, to appear in Ann. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 52
(2002