History and Government Human Geography of the Russian Core History and Government Unrest during World War I triggered, or set off, the Russian Revolution of 1917, signaling the demise of Europe’s last absolute monarchy. The Communist-controlled Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) emerged and engaged in a political and ideological war with the West. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the independence of 15 different countries in the region, including Belarus and Ukraine.

Human Geography of the Russian Core Population Patterns About 80 percent of Russians live west of the Ural Mountains where there is rich soil, waterways, and a milder climate. After the fall of the Soviet Union, people were free to migrate, and many settled in cities, such as the capital city of Moscow. The region is facing a population decline, with death rates increasing while birth rates are falling, resulting in a smaller, but older population.

Society and Culture Today Human Geography of the Russian Core Society and Culture Today The Soviet government promoted atheism and discriminated against different ethnic groups. In the late 1980s the government began to loosen its restrictions on religion and the arts, leading people to rediscover both. Russian women have a long history of working, first in industry and now in all sectors; financial necessity is increasing their numbers in the workforce, contributing to a lower birth rate.

Human Geography of the Russian Core Economic Activities With the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia experienced a rocky transition from a command economy to a market economy. Natural resources account for most of Russia’s exports, such as crude oil, minerals, and lumber. Although a key trading partner with Russia, Ukraine remains wary of Russia’s former power and is considering joining the European Union. Belarus remains industrially integrated and closely allied with Russia.