Russia and the Newly Independent States: An Introduction to Geo-Political History Western Kazakhstan

Eastern Georgia

Saint Petersburg, Russia Photo: UVM Student Julia Katsnelson

Transcaucasus Mountains

Georgia

Baku, Azerbaijian photo: Alexander Pasternak

Transcaucasus

Chechen Refugee Camp

Chechnya, Russia

Winter Palace, St Petersburg, Russia

Moscow, Russia

The Kremlin, Moscow, Russia

Altay Region

Altay Region, Russia

Lake Baykal, Russia

Novosibirsk, Western Siberia, Russia

Uzbekistan

Samarkand, Ukbekistan

Turkmenistan

Almaty, Kazahkstan

Almaty Region, Kazahkstan

Tajikistan

Western Tajikistan

Kyrgyzstan

Some facts about Russian Federation : Arable land: 7.17% Population growth rate: -0.47% (2010 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: years male: years 59.5 female: years 73.1 Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993 Literacy: 99.4% (2002) GDP growth rate: 7.3% (2003 est.) 8.1% (2007 est) 3.8% (2010 est) GDP per capita (PPP): $16, 100 (2008) 15,300 (2009) Economy has been growing by around 7% each year since Poverty: 25% (January 2003 est.) (13.1% 2009 est)

RUSSIAN GEO-POLITICAL HISTORY Russian Imperialism Russian Empire began in Muscovy region, around present-day Moscow

In exchange for people’s compliance with the system, citizens would receive housing, education and health care at no or minimal cost. However, the system had its roots in Russian legacy of collectivisim and authoritarianism, in which citizens were not guaranteed representation or rights. The Soviet Empire

Gosplan- the central economic planning commission Bourgeois specialists Lenin’s ideal of the one Soviet People Stalin years ( ) Josef Stalin

Soviet State Expansion 1940s and 1950s

World War II The Iron Curtain Continued Industrialization Achievements in engineering, space race, and military Sputnik stamp

Rapid Breakup of the Soviet Empire Occurred between 1989 and 1992 Due to (?? These are theories….): regional inequalities consumer demands manipulation of power by ruling elites Empire broke into 15 separate countries. Economies and systems left in disarray, regions had to readjust quickly.

The Former Soviet Union and Today’s Independent States

Russian Federation, Post 1992 The Russian Federation was weakened politically and economically by the break-up. By the end of the 1990s Russian Federation was in crisis: huge debt, 100% inflation, half of the economic output of Russian Diaspora 1: Because workers were needed throughout the USSR to keep to economic and industrial goals, Russians relocated throughout the territories of the USSR, forming a diaspora of the Russian people in non-Russian territories. Diaspora: the spatial dispersion of a previously homogenous group.

In 1989, 25 million Russians found themselves to be ethnic minorities in new countries. Russian Diaspora #2: An even greater number moved to other parts of the world, and while the number is not very high, these tend to be the most educated and talented individuals, resulting in a ‘brain drain’. Still, there are 92 ethnic groups remaining in Russian Federation and there are numerous irredentist and secessionist movements.

Russian Federation Today Strong economy, mainly due to oil and gas and domestic production of goods, wobbled during the downturn Growing middle class President: Premier Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since May 2012, and another term before) head of government: Dmitriy Anatolyevich MEDVEDEV (since 8 May 2012 “semi-authoritarian state” with carefully managed elections

Getting to Know the “Newly Independent States” Armenian bread, Armenia Photo: Monica Wiegart, TrekEarth

Some facts about Kazakhstan : Climate and geography: continental climate, grasslands, steppe, mountainous region, 9th largest (area) country in the world Economy: Oil, natural gas, grain and machinery. Oil pipeline to China. (Economy is larger than all other Central Asian countries combined.) 53 rd highest GDP in world Political Structure: Parlimentary republic but power concentrated in executive branch. Nazarbayev has been president since 1991.

Demographics: pop growth rate.4%, 57% urban, life expectancy: 68 years (male 69, female 74) literacy rate: 99.5% Ethnic groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 63.3% (2009) was 53.4% (1999), Russian 23.7% (2009) 30% (1999), Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%, German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uygur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census) Religion: (Sunni) Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7% Language: Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)

Climate and Geography: subtropical desert, rolling dune desert, mtns in south Political Structures: parliamentary government, but executive branch holds power. Niyazov who was President for Life ( ) passed away in His Vice Premier, Berdimuhamedow, was elected president in Economy: agriculture and energy exports: cotton, grain; livestock natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing Some facts about Turkmenistan:

Demographics pop growth rate 1.4%, 49% urban, life expectancy: 68 years (male 65, female 71) literacy rate: 98.8% Ethnic groups: Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003) Religions: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2% Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Some facts about Armenia: Climate and Geography: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Economy: Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era Conflict with Azerbaijan:

Demographics pop growth rate.107%, 64% urban, Net migration: -3.35/1000 (2012) life expectancy: 72 years ( male 69, female 77) literacy rate: 99.4% Ethnic groups: Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census) Languages: Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census) Religion: Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3% Etchmiadizn, may be oldest church in the world