🗊Презентация Russia – Chapter 9

Russia – Chapter 9 Rowntree, et. al. Modified by Joe Naumann, UMSL

Chapter 9: The Russian Domain (Fig. 9.1)

Learning Objectives Understand the challenges of cold, northern climate that affects this region Learn about the cold war between the U.S. and U.S.S.R./Russia (1945-1990) Know the difference between a political system and an economic system Students should become familiar with the physical, demographic, cultural, political, and economic characteristics of the Russian Domain Understand these concepts and models:

Introduction Russian Domain includes Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia (all were part of the U.S.S.R.) Russia is the largest country (in land area) on Earth; it spans 11 time zones Rich in resources, but has one of the harshest climates The Russian Domain has had extremely rapid political and economic change since 1990 From centrally planned economy to capitalism From authoritarian dictatorship to democracy Region’s economy is weak; commitment to democracy uncertain, nationalist movements threaten stability Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia must build global relationships

RUSSIA-US SIZE COMPARISON

Environmental Geography: Vast & Challenging Land Russian Domain has “good farmlands,” metal, petroleum, natural gas, and coal resources High latitude, continental climate, temperature extremes Cold climate and rugged terrain limit human settlement and agriculture Sturgeon (caviar-producing fish) nearly gone Few domestic regulations to protect them Poaching adds to the problem

Physical Geography of the Russian Domain (Fig. 9.2)

The European West The European West European Russia, Ukraine and Belarus on eastern European Plain 3 environments influence agriculture in this region Poor soils, cold temps, forests N. of Moscow & St. Petersburg Belarus and central European Russia have longer growing season, but acidic podzol soils limit farm output South of 50 N Latitude, grassland and fertile soils support commercial wheat, corn, sugar, beets, meat production

The Ural Mountains and Siberia The Ural Mountains and Siberia Urals separate European Russia from Siberia: low mountains with cold, dry climates Siberia extends thousands of miles, cold climate, little precipitation Lake Baikal (largest freshwater reserve in the world – 400 miles long, nearly a mile deep, with unique species) Tundra (mosses, lichens) north; Taiga (coniferous forest zone) south Farming possible only in southwest Siberia Permafrost in Eastern Siberia – cold climate with unstable, seasonally frozen ground limiting farming and construction

Climate Map of the Russian Domain (Fig. 9.3)

Agricultural Regions (Fig. 9.5)

Environmental Geography: A Vast and Challenging Land (cont.) The Russian Far East Near Vladivostok, about same latitude as New England (in N. America) Longer growing seasons and milder climates than Siberia, seismically active Ussuri and Amur River Valleys have mixed crop and livestock farming Vegetation includes conifers, taiga, Asian hardwoods The Caucasus and Transcaucasia In extreme south of European Russia, forms Russia’s southern boundary, between the Black and Caspian seas Highest peak is Mt. Elbrus (18,000 feet) Georgia and Armenia are in Transcaucasia; Lesser Caucasus Mountains form border between Armenia and Azerbaijan Climate: high rainfall in west, arid or semi-arid in east; good soils and farming

A Devastated Environment (cont.) A Devastated Environment (cont.) Air and Water Pollution Extreme environmental pollution, from industrialization, urbanization, careless mining, nuclear energy production; legacy of U.S.S.R. Air pollution caused by clustered factories, few environmental controls, reliance on low quality coal Water pollution caused by industrial waste, raw sewage, oil spills; pulp and paper factories polluted Lake Baikal (1950s-60s) The Nuclear Threat Former U.S.S.R. nuclear weapons, energy production caused pollution Above-ground testing made radioactive fallout; nuclear waste dumped Nuclear weapons used for seismic experiments, oil exploration, dam building Russia has many old nuclear reactors; major nuclear accidents: 1986 meltdown in Chernobyl (Belarus); another in 1956 Construction of new nuclear plants Possibility of warehousing of international nuclear wastes

Environmental Issues in the Russian Domain (Fig. 9.9)

Population & Settlement: An Urban Domain Overview of the Russian Domain More than 200 million residents, most in cities Population Distribution Most people in best farmlands European Russia; 110 mil.; Siberia: 35 mil.; Belarus & Ukraine: 60 mil The European Core (Belarus; Western Russia; Ukraine) Contains the Russian Domain’s largest cities, biggest industrial complexes, most productive farms, higher population densities Siberian Hinterlands Relatively sparse settlement, with two zones influenced by transportation Industrial cities along Trans-Siberian Railroad (1904) Thinner settlement along the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) Railroad -- newer (1984)

Population Map of the Russian Domain (Fig. 9.12)

Regional Migration Patterns Regional Migration Patterns Eastward Movement (1860-1914) Trans-Siberian Railroad speeded eastward movement Almost 1 mil. settlers lured by farming opportunities in southern Siberia, more political freedom away from Tsars Tsars – czars; authoritarian leaders who dominated politics of pre-1917 Russian Empire (comes from “Caesar”) Political Motives Infill in Siberia has economic and political benefits Political dissidents sent to Siberia (Gulags Archipelago) Russification: Soviet policy moved Russians into non-Russian portions of U.S.S.R to increase Russian dominance in those areas; Russians are a significant minority in former Soviet republics

Recent Migration Flows in the Russian Domain (Fig. 9.17)

Population Density

Regional Migration Patterns (cont.) Regional Migration Patterns (cont.) New International Movements Russification often reversed in post-Soviet era Citizenship, language requirements encourage Russians to go Movement to other regions “Brain drain” to other countries Jewish Russians move to Israel or U.S. Mail-order Ukrainian brides to the U.S. The Urban Attraction Soviet planners’ encouraged migration to cities Soviets planned cities, limited population levels and regulated migration Post-Soviet era, citizens have greater freedom to move; many older industrial areas are now losing population

Inside the Russian City Inside the Russian City Russian cities carefully in planned form and function, with circular land-use zones Core has superior transportation, best stores and housing Core predates Soviets era Sotzgorods: work-linked housing (including dorms) Chermoyuski: apartment blocks from 1950s/60s Mikrorayons: Self-contained housing projects of 1970s/80s Dachas: country houses available only to the elite

The Demographic Crisis The Demographic Crisis General population decline caused by low birth rates and rising death (mortality) rates, especially among middle-aged males Causes fraying social fabric economic uncertainty declining health among women of child-bearing age stress-related diseases rising murder and suicide toxic environments Russia’s population could fall by 3 million by 25 million by 2030

The Legacy of Slavic Dominance The Heritage of the Russian Empire Growth of the Russian Empire Slavic “Rus” in power from 900AD around Kiev Eastern Orthodox Christianity came in 1000AD By 1400s, new and expanding Russian state after Tatar and Mongol rule Expansion eastward in 16th & 17th centuries; westward expansion slow Final expansion of Russian Empire in 19th Century in Central Asia The Significance of Empire 1900, Russians ruled from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok

Growth of the Russian Empire (Fig. 9.20)

Geographies of Language Geographies of Language Slavic languages dominate in the Russian Domain 80% of Russia’s people are ethnic Russians There are other language groups Finno-Ugric (Finnish) in the north Altaic (Tatars & Turkic peoples) middle Volga Transcaucasia has many languages Yakut (Turkic) in Siberia; Buryats near Lake Baikal Similar treatment to indigenous in U.S., Canada, Australia

Geographies of Religion Geographies of Religion Soviets prohibited religion, religious revival underway now Eastern Orthodox Christianity most common Other forms of Western Christianity practiced Non-Christian religions 20-25 million Sunni Muslims live in the North Caucasus Over 1 million Jews, mostly in larger western cities

Languages of the Russian Domain (Fig. 9.22)

Russian Culture in Global Context Russian Culture in Global Context Strong traditions, influenced by Western Europe Soviet Days Soviets promoted social realism: a style devoted to the realistic depiction of workers harnessing the forces of nature or struggling against capitalism Turn to the West Young Russians adopted consumer culture in 1980s In post-Soviet era, globalism and consumerism came to Russia from the West and elsewhere (India, Hong Kong, Latin America) The Music Scene American and European popular music gaining fans Home-grown music industry is evolving

The Remnants of a Global Superpower Geopolitical Structure of Former Soviet Union Russian Empire collapsed abruptly in 1917 Briefly, a broad-based coalition of business people, workers, and peasants replaced tsars Soon, Bolsheviks (faction of Russian Communists representing the interests of the industrial workers), led by Lenin, centralized power and introduced communism The Soviet Republics and Autonomous Areas Soviet leaders designed a geopolitical solution to maintain the country’s territorial boundaries, and theoretically acknowledged the rights of non-Russian citizens by creating Union Republics Autonomous areas: minor political sub-units designed to recognize special status of minority groups within existing republics

Soviet Geopolitical System (Fig. 9.26)

Geopolitical Framework: The Remnants of a Global Superpower Centralization and Expansion of the Soviet State Communism did not eliminate ethnic differences In 1930, Soviet leader Stalin centralized power in Moscow, limiting national autonomy Land added Sakhalin, Kuril Islands from Japan; Baltic republics Occupation of Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia Exclave (outside Russia’s contiguous land) added from Germany End of the Soviet System Union republics encouraged ethnic identification Glasnost: greater openness; Perestroika: economic restructuring 1991: all 15 Union Republics gained independence

Geopolitical Framework: The Remnants of a Global Superpower Current Geopolitical Setting (1992-present) (Fig. 9.30) Russia and the Former Soviet Republics Formed Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) – a looser political union that included all but three of the former republics; has no power, and is mostly a forum for discussion Denuclearization (the return and partial dismantling of nuclear weapons from outlying republics to Russian control completed in 1990s; tactical nuclear weapons moved to Kaliningrad exclave Military, political and ethnic tensions remain in parts of the region Devolution and the Russian Federation Devolution: more localized political control in Russia Russian leaders fear other areas will secede

Regional Tensions Regional Tensions Chechnyan Republic seeking independence Russians sent military Chechnya has metals and oil The Shifting Global Setting Boundary issues between Russia and China Dispute with Japan over Kuril Islands Expansion of NATO concerns Russian leaders Russia recently joined the “Group of Seven” (G-7) Other members: U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy)

Geopolitical Issues in the Russian Domain (Fig. 9.27)

An Era of Ongoing Adjustment After economic decline of 40% in the 1990s, Russia’s economy stabilized in 2000 and 2004 The Legacy of the Soviet Economy Communists came to power in 1917, and instituted centralized economic planning: a situation in which the state controls production targets and industrial output Soviets nationalized agriculture, but it was inefficient Soviets expanded industrialization and transportation Industrialization more successful than collectivized agriculture Trans-Siberian Railroad, canal system Improvements in housing and education after WWII Literacy near 100% But economic and social problems increased in 1970s-’80s

Soviet industry more successful than agriculture Soviet industry more successful than agriculture Soviets added major industrial zones (Fig. 9.31), many near energy sources and metals Moscow had fewer raw materials, but had some of Russia’s best infrastructure, large pool of skilled labor, and demand for industrial products Soviets developed a good transportation and communication infrastructure Soviets had a massive housing campaign in the 1960s Soviets made literacy virtually universal, and health care readily available; eliminated the worst of the poverty

The Post-Soviet Economy The Post-Soviet Economy The region has replaced its communist system with a mix of state-run operations and private enterprise Redefining Regional Economic Ties Independent republics negotiate for needed resources with Russia and each other rather than accept centralized control Russia continues to dominate the region’s economy Privatization and Economic Uncertainty Russia removed price controls in 1992; sold state-owned business to private investors in 1993 Higher prices, lack of legal safeguards created problems Agriculture still struggles, in part due to harsh climate, landforms Many people see little economic gain from changes

Major Natural Resources and Industrial Zones (Fig. 9.30)

The Russian Mafia The Russian Mafia Russia Interior Ministry estimates that Russian mafia controls 40% of the private economy & 60% of the state-run enterprises; 80% of banks in Russia may be under mafia influence Protection money, corruption result Russian mafia has gone global Money laundering (Russia, U.K., U.S.); gambling (Sri Lanka); drugs (Colombia); legitimate Israeli high tech companies

Social Problems High unemployment, rising housing costs; lower welfare spending Divorce and domestic violence increasing; prostitution increasing Health care spending dropping Vaccine shortages allow disease to return Chronic and stress-related illnesses on the rise

Growing Economic Globalization Growing Economic Globalization Starting in 1970s, Soviets exported fossil fuels, imported food; ties now stronger A New Day for the Consumer Western consumer goods available (e.g., McDonald’s, Calvin Klein; even some luxury items) Attracting Foreign Investment Region struggles to attract foreign investment Most investment from U.S., western Europe (esp. Germany, U.K.) Fossil fuels, food, telecommunications, consumer goods Foreign investment growing by more than 14% annually

Globalization and Russia’s Petroleum Economy Globalization and Russia’s Petroleum Economy Russia has 35% of the world’s natural gas reserves Mostly in Siberia World’s largest gas exporter Primary destination for Russian petroleum products is western Europe Former U.S.S.R. republics depend on Russia’s energy Foreign investment in new pipelines, other technology Local impacts of globalization Vary from place to place Investment in Moscow, Siberia (oil) Pro-business Nizhny Novgorod and Samara attract investment Local economic declines in older, uncompetitive industrial areas

Conclusions Russian Domain has seen great change, from empire, through revolution and break-up Ethnic & cultural differences continue to shape the region Russian Domain is rich in natural resources, but has limited agricultural potential and lingering economic difficulties Massive readjustments growing from the political and economic upheavals of the 1990s continue to affect the area Environmental devastation in the region and its effects continue to cause social and health problems More uncertainty lies ahead for the people of the Russian Domain.