World Regional Geography

Spring 2005

Chapter 4: Russia and Neighboring Countries

 

From Berlin to the remote reaches of the Russian Far East, perestroika, glasnost and the collapse of the Soviet Union (over 100 national groups) brought into being 27 newly independent countries on the Eurasia land mass.

 

Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldavia (Slavic,) Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan (Southern Caucasus,) Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (Central Asian Republics)

 

Commonwealth of Independent States: Russia (Russian Federation) and 11 former Soviet Republics.  After USSR breakup, the 12 CIS countries were unable to integrate into the world economic system.  Due to:

§         Incomplete economic systems (each was part of the Soviet system)

§         Incomplete political systems (no institutions involving democratic traditions and international cooperation)

§         Lack of market-based economy

§         No international financial and legal institutions.

§         Aging infrastructure that was oriented towards Moscow

§         Lack of international infrastructure (airports, ports, rail and pipelines that connect to the West)

 

To address this, these countries joined to provide support to each other.  Reasons for cooperation are VERY important.

 

Russian Imperialism (Russian people always a minority ethnic group)

§         Represents a very large empire made of adjoining lands (only modern empire with adjoining land/colonies.)

§         Major invading influences: Christianity, Islam and Mongol culture

§         Silk Road: through Central Asia- Linked China and Europe

§         Caucasus Mountains- region were Europe and Asia meet

§         988, Prince Vladimir brings Eastern Orthodox Christianity to Rus

§         1200 Mongols invade and rule- the Khanate of the Golden Horde

§         1480 Muscovy refuses to pay tribute to Mongol Empire- Ivan III (the Great), who becomes leader of the Christian Empire

§         Moscow becomes the third "Rome" (after Constantinople)

§         Romanov Dynasty from 1613 to 1917

 

Russia (world’s largest country)

After the Soviet Union's breakup, Russia still remains the world's largest state.

1.      Russia is European in demography; Asian in geography.

2.      The majority of population lives in Russian Europe.

3.      The majority of Russian land area is in Asia (East of the Urals or Volga River, the traditional dividing lines of Europe and Asia).

 

The withdrawal of Soviet hegemony from the Balkans and Eastern Europe created one of the major turning points in world history.

 

Gorbachev (architect of the Soviet Union’s breakup):  Introduced perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (information openness.) 

 

Political Breakup, New Alliances

 

EU and NATO have emerged as the most powerful economic and military supernational organizations in Europe and the Balkans. Russia views NATO expansion as a long-term threat to regional security.

1.      Russian- concern for former East Bloc states becoming members of NATO. Eastern Europe an important geopolitical buffer between Western/Russian security interests.

2.      NATO has played a strategic role in stabilizing former Yugoslavian provinces of Bosnia and Croatia; Russian interests in Serbia continue.

3.      Russia is interested in EU cooperation, trade and financial assistance.

 

The new Alliance: Commonwealth of Independent States

1.      An uneasy alliance among many former Soviet republics.

2.      Most former Soviet republics have large Russian minorities (invites Russian military intervention.)

 

Russian physical geography

1.      Almost all of coastline freezes in winter. The longest stretch of Russian coast in Arctic (mostly useless.)

2.      Continentality- effect by great land mass: creates extreme hot and cold climate

3.      World’s greatest extent of interior climate conditions (reduces precipitation)

4.      Southern boundary- Caucasus, Elburz, Tien Shan and Pamir mountains.  Ural mountains (East) mark the boundary between Europe and Asia

5.      Water- Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea and Lake Baikal

6.      Caspian Sea- waters drawn for irrigation (1977) (fell 65 ft.)  Now rising waters threaten existing structures and facilities

7.      Black Sea is most important coastline- key to the industrial heartland of Russia.

8.      Plains and plateaus dominate landscape

9.      Longest rivers (Ob, Yenisey and Lena) flow northward into Artic Circle

10. Over half of Russia is covered by Boreal forest (subarctic ecosystem).

11. Over half of Russia is frozen beneath a surface depth of two feet (permafrost). Some area are 10,000 feet thick

12. Most of Russian national territory is located in Siberian lowland or upland.

 


Figure 4.9 Page 134

 

 

13. Vegetation changes from desert to steppe grassland, deciduous forest, coniferous forest to tundra

14. Steppe Grasslands (black earth soils) are similar to US prairies- one of the world’s most arable regions

15. Taiga- Northern coniferous forest- world’s largest forest area

16. There are 8,000 miles of track (Trans-Siberian RR) between St. Petersburg (Baltic) and Vladivostok (Pacific).

17. A Mineral-rich country

a.      Russia lacks only two strategic resources in significant domestic quantities: tin and uranium. Everything else is in plentiful supply (iron, gold, coal, oil, natural gas and diamonds.)

b.      Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia was the world's largest exporter of oil.

c.      Major challenge is development of pipelines through friendly territories to deliver gas and oil

d.      After a major crop failure in 1990, Russia sold 220 tons of Soviet gold reserve to buy food.

e.      The chief gold-producing region is in the Russian Far East.

 

Environmental Problems

 

  1. Soviet Legacy- massive exploitation of resources with little environmental regard
  2. Heavy industry has done much damage- also weapons testing etc.
  3. Pipeline breaks and leakages (aging infrastructure)
  4. Norilsk (Western Siberia) most polluted environment (40 times legal sulfur dioxide levels)
  5. Nuclear contamination- 1986 Chernobyl reactor explosion
  6. Aral Sea- over use of the water into this basin has caused major environmental damage

 

The Economy

1.      There is not widespread interest in returning to a command economy.

2.      There is a movement from communism to capitalism.

3.      Land reform (breakup of collectives and state farms).

4.      Privatizing state-owned industries.

5.      Price reform.

6.      Financial reform (fiscal policy, monetary control)

7.      Russia produced only .08% of world GDP.

8.      GDP had a 60% drop in the 1990s.

9.      Global connections: few, as a result of communist legacy

10. Cost and trial of converting to a market economy has been very costly

11. Agriculture- productive area are in west Russia, Ukraine and Moldova.  Ukraine has vast black soil prairies like the Midwest and central Texas.

 

Trade (emphasis on exports to generate in-country investment capital.)

 

New Political Geography

  • Now a multiparty system, includes communists.
  • The military
    • Nuclear weapons control: Russia versus other Eurasian regions.
    • Black Fleet control: Russia versus the Ukraine.
    • Civilian control top priority.
  • Eastern Europe is historically the invasion route of choice into Russia; hence Russian concern over NATO membership of former Soviet Bloc nations.
  • Problems- corruption, poor infrastructure and large bureaucracy prevent foreign private investment
  • United States and Germany are Russias biggest trading partners

 

The Baltics (from Europe Chapter)

1.      Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were the first to break away and privatize their economies. Strong anti-Russian sentiments remain.

2.      Large numbers of Russians continue to reside in each of the Baltic republics. They are often resented and encouraged to leave. The security of Russian minorities throughout the former republics is of prime concern and importance to Moscow.

3.      Baltics have historically strong ties to Germany and Western Europe.

4.      Dependent on Russia for energy resources and trade.

 

Slavic Countries (Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova (all 3 have known little independence)

 

  • Population density: highest in Western Russia
  • Populations are separated from each other by mountains and poor infrastructure
  • Russian Federation: largest country by area, permanent security council member and nuclear power.  Contains substantial portions of the world’s natural resources
  • People- greatest demographic concern is population decline. You need to know the distribution, issues and effects Russian population decline.  See:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0418/p06s02-woeu.html

  • Fertility rates are 1.2 with 2.1 needed to maintain the population- birth rates are low, death rates are high and the population is aging.  High abortion and alcoholism rates with little health care
  • Emigration to West Russia is high (from other republics)
  • Main cause for population decline is economic decline
  • 60-70 % live in urban areas.  Moscow biggest city

 

Human Rights

Soviet legacy is terrible (Stalin’s legacy)

Gulag- corrective labor camp (part of Stalin’s Great Terror)

Kolyma gold mining region (Eastern Siberia): location of many gulags

Chechnya- Russia has been accused of many human rights abuses during ongoing war

 

Woman’s Roles: Woman have served in the same roles as men in Russian society (doctor’s, scientists, politicians, etc.)  Women hold 60% of construction jobs.  Women do most of the work at home- with alcoholism among men on the rise.  The society looks like it has equality but there are very big gaps.

 

Autonomous Russian Political Units

 

North European and Middle Volga- Urals: Eastern Orthodox Christianity.  Boreal forests, with poor agricultural lands and low population densities.  Resource-oriented economies.

North Caucasus- Muslim.  Mountain cultures and identities with a very complex cultural mix.  Home of the Cechens (bloody movement for independence since 1991)

Siberia and the Far East- Turkic and Mongolian peoples.  Buddhists and nomadic herders.  Location of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast (home for the Jews outside of Palestine.)- mostly Russian.

Far North Territories- Rich in resources (gold, iron ore, diamonds, timber, etc.) Many small tribes and ethnic groups

Heartland- west of the Urals (Rus and Muscovy)- greatest concentration of Russian people

Hinterland- Area outside of the heartland.  Siberia (3/4 of land area) contains most of Russia’s resources.  Russian aspiration of taming the wild, wild east (the frontier) to make their fortune.

 

Vladivostok and the Amur River- Pacific coastal area of Russia with great resources.  Limit to development is Russian and Japanese political problems.

 

Ukraine

  • The Port of Kiev is the chief access to Moscow's central industrial region (Russia's largest).
  • Poor in resources, Ukraine is largely an agricultural nation. Historically, Ukraine has been called the bread basket of the USSR.
  • Close relationship with the West.
  • The Soviets (Russian) left behind large inventory of military hardware and nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
  • Ukrainians are concerned about large Russian minority who are pressing for continuation of special rights evident under Soviet era occupation.
  • Elections- One of the biggest stories to come out of this region since the USSR was dissolved:

http://www.brama.com/news/elections.html

 

Moldova

  • Close ties to Romania- could have joined into one country but Russian troops in Moldova prevented it.
  • Russians and Ukrainians in Moldova declared independence from Moldova
  • Moldovans are more related to Romanians than Slavs
  • Moldova has good agricultural lands

 

The Southern Caucasus (The Most Linguistically Complex Area in the World) - A region with strong ethnic, religious and linguistic links to Ottoman, Persian, and Russian conquest and occupation.

 

1.      Moslem Abkazia (Cherkess) has deported most Georgians (Christians) and has retained strong ties with Russia.

2.      Moslems in Georgia are looked down upon and persecuted.

3.      Armenia has strong military and continues to occupy Azerbaijan territory. Russia historically Armenia's protector.

4.      Armenians have 8,000 years of history

5.      Genocide of the Armenian people during WWI by the Ottoman government

6.      Armenians claim to be the first Christian country

7.      Azeris- Largest minority in Iran. Turkish Azeris in Armenia have strong ties with Turkey. Azerbaijan increasingly turns to Iran for assistance. This gives Russia cause for deep concern.

8.      Azerbaijan- Shia Moslem country (like Iran)- stands to become a major world oil exporter (on the Caspian Sea)

 

Most Islamic ethnic groups generally opposed to any Russian initiative.

1. Karachai and Chechen nations were deported to Central Asia during WWII. Their language was proscribed from the national education system.

2. The current Chechen war in the Caucasus began in the mid-nineteenth century and continues to this day.

3. Islamic ethnic groups occupy all major topographic gaps or strategic passes in the Caucasus leading from the Russian Steppe into Turkey, Iran and the Transcaucasus of Armenia and Azerbaijan. (chokepoints and shatterbelts)

 

The Caucasus and nearby Caspian are rich in oil and metallic mineral resources.

1. The Caspian Basin is thought to have oil reserves as large as those of the Persian Gulf.

2. New pipeline construction is planned to completely bypass the troubled Caucasus region.

 

Moslem Central Asia

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

 

  • Area that was once powerful, influential and greatly contributed to early Islamic culture and science
  • Occupy strategic geopolitical positions between East/West, North/South, Christian/Moslem, etc.
  • Uzbekistan- dominant country in the region (also one of the worst human rights records in the world – suppresses freedom of expression, no independent media and arrest of opposition)
  • Strong imperial Russian-Chinese rivalry going back to the seventeenth century.
  • An isolated region where Moslem factions continue to struggle for power.

1. Iranian involvement on behalf of Shiite Moslems in Taijikistan a regional issue.

2. Russia continues to support those fractions who support Russian foreign policy objectives in inner Asia.

a. Protection for large European Russian minority in a largely Asian environment.

b. A watchful eye on China, who before 1840 occupied most of the region.

 

Uzbekistan

PLEASE LOOK AT THESE WEB SITES:

 

This is a really different part of the world.

 

From the US State Department: http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1999_hrp_report/uzbekist.html

World News Uzbekistan:

http://www.uzbekistan.com/

Muslim Uzbekistan

http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/english.html

Check this out- An underground newspaper on the net:

 

Introduction to the Diary: http://www.thepoorman.net/archives/001751.html

 

Kazakstan: the largest of the former Central Asian republics.

a.      A large USSR space and rocket research center is located here.

b.      Now officially recognized by the United States.

c.      They are cooperating fully in destroying ICBM and nuclear weapon facilities left behind by Soviets.

d.      Largest in area of former Soviet inner Asian republics.

 

A mostly Moslem region where important economic activities center around mineral fuels and water distribution or allocation.

 

Soviet policies split these countries into factions and keep them tied to the Russian economic infrastructure.  There is a general anti-Russian attitude here.

 

The Soviet Legacy

1.      The Imperial Russian Empire evolved into a Soviet empire.

2.      The many nationalities making up modern Russia tend to be anti-Russian and nationalistic, especially in the Caucasus, lower Volga (Volga Tartars) and Baltic.

3.      Many Moslem ethnic groups are intent on settling old scores as a result of brutal treatment during the communist era (Chechens).

4.      The Russian army tends to be the decisive political factor in the controlling widespread independence movements throughout non-Russian areas of the former Soviet Empire.

 

Russian demographics and China:

 

Check out these Russian population sites:

 

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0418/p06s02-woeu.html

http://www.cdi.org/Russia/216-10.cfm