Russia and Eurasia

Russia and Eurasia Republics

The countries listed below were once part of the, Russia dominated, U.S.S.R., but are now independent republics:

• Ukraine• Belarus • Uzbekistan• Kazakhstan• Georgia• Azerbaijan• Lithuania• Moldova• Latvia• Kyrgyzstan• Tajikistan• Armenia • Turkmenistan• Estonia

How the region has evolved:

After World War II, territories that are now independent nations, were brought under the control of the Soviet Union.

However, in more recent times, conflicts between the people and their rulers in the USSR brought about political changes, and new nations were formed.

The Soviet Union was an example of one party rule. One party rule is not a characteristic of limited governments.

Vladimir Lenin – Ruled from 1918 until his death in 1924.

Under Lenin's rule, Soviet citizens lived under a totalitarian form of government.

Most of the new nations are located to the west and southwest of Russia, the largest of the former Soviet republics.

Because of its history, Russian is a secondary language that is spoken throughout the region.

Study the data below:

Based on the map and above data, you can generalize that farming and ranching are located in areas different from the areas where oil and coal are found.

Most Russian cities are located between 30°E and 60°E longitude and 45°N and 60°N latitude, in Russia’s southwest.

Russia’s harsh climate best explains patterns of settlement across the nation.

Most coal resources are located in the center.

Settlers in Siberia have adopted to an environment of “permafrost land.”  

Most of Russia’s major industries are located in the east because there is where most of the useable natural resources are located.

The Russian language is spread across two continents

Economies

Market Economies – Government has less control of the economy.

Communism – government had more control of the economy.

EconomiesWith the end of communist control, independent republics, that used to be under the control of the Soviet Union, have benefited. Today Much more money and new business projects are coming from outside sources.

Change to DemocracyUnder the Soviet Union, workers, such as farmers and laborers, worked for the state. Today, those same workers, make their own decisions about a job. Today there are modern businesses, where before, there were long lines at stores that produced goods of poor quality. Today, however, there are also criminal organizations, where as before the government was able to keep such organizations under control.

Change to DemocracyWhen governments change to democracy, cultural borrowing by people can bring about both good and bad choices.Discuss -

EconomicsWith the fall of communism, less government control influenced the economy of Russia in that it allowed more opportunity in some areas but it also reduced some programs that helped people.

The least developed countries in the region are:

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

The Russian FederationToday’s Russia Federation has some characteristics in common with the United States:• A Constitution• Different Branches of Government• A Free Market Economy

ONE WAY THAT RUSSIA IS NOT LIKE THE UNITED STATES IS THAT IT HAS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.

BY DECLARING RUSSIAN AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE, RUSSIA HOPES TO STRENGTHEN RUSSIAN CULTURAL.

CULTURE - SHARED BELIEFS AND VALUES.

The Russian Federation

YugoslaviaBecause of ethnic and religious differences, Yugoslavia experienced a great deal of internal conflict. The United States and European nations cooperated to end the fighting.After a bloody war, Yugoslavia eventually collapsed in 1995 and six new nations were formed.

Man's attempts to alter or modify the environment can have drastic consequences. The Aral Sea, a saltwater lake in northern Asia, is the site of an environmental disaster. In the 1950s, new irrigation projects diverted most of the water from the rivers to cotton farmlands. The sea slowly evaporated, leaving vast plains to dry out.