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Russia and the Newly Independent States: An Introduction to Geo-Political History

Russia and the Newly Independent States: An Introduction to Geo-Political History. Western Kazakhstan. Eastern Georgia. Saint Petersburg, Russia Photo: UVM Student Julia Katsnelson. Transcaucasus Mountains. Georgia. Baku, Azerbaijian photo: Alexander Pasternak. Transcaucasus.

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Russia and the Newly Independent States: An Introduction to Geo-Political History

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  1. Russia and the Newly Independent States: An Introduction to Geo-Political History Western Kazakhstan

  2. Eastern Georgia

  3. Saint Petersburg, Russia Photo: UVM Student Julia Katsnelson

  4. Transcaucasus Mountains

  5. Georgia

  6. Baku, Azerbaijian photo: Alexander Pasternak

  7. Transcaucasus

  8. Chechen Refugee Camp

  9. Chechnya, Russia

  10. Winter Palace, St Petersburg, Russia

  11. Moscow, Russia

  12. The Kremlin, Moscow, Russia

  13. Altay Region

  14. Altay Region, Russia

  15. Lake Baykal, Russia

  16. Novosibirsk, Western Siberia, Russia

  17. Uzbekistan

  18. Samarkand, Ukbekistan

  19. Turkmenistan

  20. Turkmenistan

  21. Almaty, Kazahkstan

  22. Almaty Region, Kazahkstan

  23. Tajikistan

  24. Tajikistan

  25. Western Tajikistan

  26. Kyrgyzstan

  27. Kyrgyzstan

  28. Some facts about Russian Federation: • Arable land: 7.17% • Population growth rate: -0.47% (2010 est.) • Life expectancy at birth: 20042010 • total population: 66.39 years 66.16male: 59.91 years 59.5female: 73.27 years 73.1 • Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) • Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993 • Literacy: 99.4% (2002) • GDP growth rate: 7.3% (2003 est.) 8.1% (2007 est) 3.8% (2010 est) • GDP per capita (PPP): $16, 100 (2008) 15,300 (2009) • Economy has been growing by around 7% each year since 1998. • Poverty: 25% (January 2003 est.) (13.1% 2009 est)

  29. RUSSIAN GEO-POLITICAL HISTORY Russian Imperialism Russian Empire began in Muscovy region, around present-day Moscow

  30. The Soviet Empire In exchange for people’s compliance with the system, citizens would receive housing, education and health care at no or minimal cost. However, the system had its roots in Russian legacy of collectivisim and authoritarianism, in which citizens were not guaranteed representation or rights.

  31. Gosplan- the central economic planning commission • Bourgeois specialists • Lenin’s ideal of the one Soviet People • Stalin years (1928-1953) Josef Stalin

  32. Soviet State Expansion 1940s and 1950s

  33. World War II The Iron Curtain Continued Industrialization Achievements in engineering, space race, and military Sputnik stamp

  34. Rapid Breakup of the Soviet Empire • Occurred between 1989 and 1992 • Due to (?? These are theories….): • regional inequalities • consumer demands • manipulation of power by ruling elites • Empire broke into 15 separate countries. Economies and systems left in disarray, regions had to readjust quickly.

  35. The Former Soviet Union and Today’s Independent States

  36. Russian Federation, Post 1992 • The Russian Federation was weakened politically and economically by the break-up. • By the end of the 1990s Russian Federation was in crisis: huge debt, 100% inflation, half of the economic output of 1989. • Russian Diaspora 1: • Because workers were needed throughout the USSR to keep to economic and industrial goals, Russians relocated throughout the territories of the USSR, forming a diaspora of the Russian people in non-Russian territories. • Diaspora: the spatial dispersion of a previously homogenous group.

  37. In 1989, 25 million Russians found themselves to be ethnic minorities in new countries. • Russian Diaspora #2: An even greater number moved to other parts of the world, and while the number is not very high, these tend to be the most educated and talented individuals, resulting in a ‘brain drain’. • Still, there are 92 ethnic groups remaining in Russian Federation and there are numerous irredentist and secessionist movements.

  38. Russian Federation Today • Strong economy, mainly due to oil and gas and domestic production of goods, wobbled during the 2008-2010 downturn • Growing middle class • President: Premier Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since May 2012, and another term before) • head of government: DmitriyAnatolyevich MEDVEDEV (since 8 May 2012 • “semi-authoritarian state” with carefully managed elections

  39. Getting to Know the “Newly Independent States” Armenian bread, Armenia Photo: Monica Wiegart, TrekEarth

  40. Some facts about Kazakhstan: Climate and geography: continental climate, grasslands, steppe, mountainous region, 9th largest (area) country in the world Economy: Oil, natural gas, grain and machinery. Oil pipeline to China. (Economy is larger than all other Central Asian countries combined.) 53rd highest GDP in world Political Structure: Parlimentary republic but power concentrated in executive branch. Nazarbayev has been president since 1991.

  41. Demographics: pop growth rate .4%, 57% urban, life expectancy: 68 years (male 69, female 74) literacy rate: 99.5% Ethnic groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 63.3% (2009) was 53.4% (1999), Russian 23.7% (2009) 30% (1999), Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%, German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uygur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census) Religion: (Sunni) Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7% Language: Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)

  42. Some facts about Turkmenistan: Climate and Geography: subtropical desert, rolling dune desert, mtns in south Political Structures: parliamentary government, but executive branch holds power. Niyazov who was President for Life (1991-2006) passed away in 2006. His Vice Premier, Berdimuhamedow, was elected president in 2007. Economy: agriculture and energy exports: cotton, grain; livestock natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing

  43. Demographics pop growth rate 1.4%, 49% urban, life expectancy: 68 years (male 65, female 71) literacy rate: 98.8% Ethnic groups: Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003) Religions: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2% Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

  44. Some facts about Armenia: Climate and Geography: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Economy: Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era • Conflict with Azerbaijan:

  45. Etchmiadizn, may be oldest church in the world Demographics pop growth rate .107%, 64% urban, Net migration: -3.35/1000 (2012) life expectancy: 72 years (male 69, female 77) literacy rate: 99.4% Ethnic groups: Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census) Languages: Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census) Religion: Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

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