1. Russia and the Republics
Today’s Issues:
Russia and the Republics
The collapse of the powerful Soviet government has left many of its former republics facing difficult ethnic, economic, and environmental challenges.
Russian troops patrol the Chechen capital of Grozny (1996).
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2. Russia and the Republics
Today’s Issues:
Russia and the Republics
SECTION 1
Regional Conflict
SECTION 2
The Struggle for Economic Reform
Case Study
The Soviet Union’s Nuclear Legacy
Unit Map: Physical
Unit Map: Political
Unit Atlas: Physical
Unit Atlas: Political
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3. Regional Conflict Section 1
• Regional tensions, once under Soviet control, have flared up in Russia and the Republics.
• Some of the most violent conflicts have occurred in the Caucasus region.
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4. Regional Conflict A Troubled Caucasus Land of Great Complexity
SECTION
Regional Conflict 1
A Troubled Caucasus
Land of Great Complexity
• Collapse of Soviet government weakens central authority in Republics
- crime and religious or ethnic conflict increase
• Caucasus—area of Caucasus Mountains between Black, Caspian seas
- north: Russian republics Chechnya, Dagestan,
Ingushetia, North Ossetia
- south: independent countries Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia
• California-size area is home to dozens of languages, 50 ethnic groups
• Groups fight violently for independent territories after USSR falls
Interactive
Continued . . .
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5. SECTION 1
continued A Troubled Caucasus
Chechnya
• Chechnya republic remains part of Russia after USSR collapse
• Russia invades twice in 1990s to block Chechnyan independence
- invades in 1994 and soon controls 2/3 of country, capital of Grozny
- rebels fight from mountain hideouts, force peace agreement
- bombings in Moscow lead Russia to invade again in 1999
Image
Continued . . .
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6. SECTION 1
continued A Troubled Caucasus
Georgia
• Georgia’s Ossetian people fight the Georgian army in early 1990s
- seek to unite South Ossetia (Georgia) with North
Ossetia (Russia)
• Abkhazia region of Georgia declares independence in 1992
- rebels force Georgian population (250,000) to
leave
- Georgian troops driven out, but region still in
ruins
Continued . . .
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7. Armenia and Azerbaijan
SECTION 1
continued A Troubled Caucasus
Armenia and Azerbaijan
• South of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan fight over territory
- Armenia wants Nagorno-Karabakh, a
mountainous area in Azerbaijan
- region is 3/4 ethnic Armenian
• Dispute rages in early 1920s, but kept under control by Soviets
- fighting resumed in late 1980s until 1994
cease-fire
- by then tens of thousands dead, nearly a million
refugees
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8. Hope on the Horizon? Can the Conflicts be Stopped?
SECTION 1
Hope on the Horizon?
Can the Conflicts be Stopped?
• U.S. hosts Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks in 2001
• Chechnyan fighting causes high casualties for Russians, Chechnyans
- once-high public support for war is declining
- economic cost of war is a burden
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9. The Struggle for Economic Reform
Section 2
The Struggle for Economic Reform
• Russia has struggled to move from a command economy to a market economy.
• Russia’s enormous size and widespread criminal activity have made economic reform difficult.
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10. The Struggle for Economic Reform
SECTION
The Struggle for Economic Reform 2
Steps Toward Capitalism
Privatization
• After Soviet collapse Russia embraces capitalism
- removes price controls in 1992; prices of goods
increase 250%
• Also in 1992, Russia begins process of privatization
- sells government-owned businesses to private
individuals, companies
• Public buy businesses with vouchers to be repaid with future profits
- business failures, unpaid vouchers lead to 1998
economic crash
• Still, by 2000, 60% of workforce employed in private sector
Continued . . .
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11. The High Cost of Economic Change
SECTION 2
continued Steps Toward Capitalism
The High Cost of Economic Change
• Since the 1998 crash, Russia’s economy has slowly recovered
• In spite of this, 40% of Russians still far below poverty line
• Some wonder if things had maybe been better under Soviets
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12. Obstacles to Economic Reform
SECTION 2
Obstacles to Economic Reform
Distance Decay
• Distance decay—long-distance communication, transportation are hard
- Russia spans 11 time zones, has 89 regional
governments
- central government in Moscow is weak
- difficult to get distant officials to enforce national
reform programs
• President Vladimir Putin creates 7 large federal districts in 2000
- governor-generals will force regional officials to
follow reform orders
Map
Continued . . .
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13. Organized Crime Future Prospects
SECTION 2
continued Obstacles to Economic Reform
Organized Crime
• “Russian mafia” criminal organizations grow rapidly in 1990s
- control 40% of private companies, 60% of state-
owned companies
- mafia creates own economy, expands outside of
Russia
• Organized crime slows economic reform by rewarding illegal activity
- government cannot tax such activity
Future Prospects
• Rising tax, customs revenues could lead to higher living standards
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14. The Soviet Union’s Nuclear Legacy
Case Study
The Soviet Union’s Nuclear Legacy
BACKGROUND
• The former Soviet Union’s nuclear programs have become a problem
• poorly constructed nuclear power stations are not being maintained
• nuclear waste dumps are decaying
• These issues pose a threat to the region’s people and environment
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15. Case Study An Unwelcome Legacy Nuclear Uncertainties
• Break up of USSR leaves fate of Soviet nuclear weapons unclear
- instead of 1 country with weapons, there are 15 independent republics
- Where are the weapons? Are they safe? Where are the nuclear scientists?
• Also facing problems with aging, poorly built nuclear reactors
- many are same design as one at Chernobyl disaster
Image
Map
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16. The Consequences of Collapse
Case Study
The Consequences of Collapse
Political Tensions
• Nuclear issues create tension between regions, other nations, U.S.
• U.S. task force in 2000 highlights nuclear security threat
- fears grow that Russian nuclear materials could be stolen, misused
- recommends $30 billion package to help keep weapons safe
Continued . . .
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17. Case Study Economic Health
continued The Consequences of Collapse
Economic Health
• Many regional leaders reluctant to shut down Soviet nuclear reactors
- it would be too expensive to build new non- nuclear plants
• Some republics’ steps to revive their economies are questionable
- in 2001, Russia’s Duma (legislature) approved nuclear dump plan
- hope to earn $21 billion by storing other countries’ nuclear waste
- Russian environmentalists are upset over the plan
Continued . . .
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18. Case Study Environmental Prospects
continued The Consequences of Collapse
Environmental Prospects
• Some hope that region’s environmental outlook can improve
• In 2000, Ukraine shut down last active Chernobyl reactor
- hope to build protective dome for disaster site
• In 2000, a U.S.-funded treatment plant opened near the White Sea
- facility treats radioactive waste from
Russian nuclear submarines
- submarine nuclear waste formerly dumped in the sea
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