World Regional Geography

Spting 2005

Chapter 4

Homework 4

Due: February 17, 2005

Reminder: Text Web Site Answers count as pass/fail- don’t stress over these

At the Web Site for the course text, complete the following exercises:

1. Study Questions

2. Fill in the Blanks

The web site:

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072549750/information_center_view0/

After you answer the questions you will be given the option to email me the results (bottom of page.) Your answers should be emailed to me. If you do these you get the points (2 points.) If not, you get nothing.

Question 1:

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia and the other Soviet Republics were unable to integrate into the world economic system. These countries face an uncertain transition from state capitalism (in Soviet bloc) to free-market capitalism within the world economic system. Explain why. What did they do to address this problem?

Question 2:

What are the issues that emerging countries like Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan face? Look at the web sites below to help frame your answer. What are the political, social and cultural challenges? Where will these countries look for support? Your answer should include geo-political, economic, historic and basic geographic components. It is also related to question 1.

Check out their web site: 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

Question 3:

Discuss the issue of Russian demographic change. How is Russia’s demographic profile changing? What is causing this? Give specific facts and statistics on this change.

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

Rand Report:

http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1273/

Rand Short Brief:

http://www.rand.org/publications/RB/RB5054/

University of Michigan:

http://www.psc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/papers/rr01-494.pdf