2/2/2010. Climate as a Limiting Element. Agriculture Affects growing seasons Drought Erosion Settlement patterns and transportation

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1 Largest territorial state in the world: 12 former republics Latvia, Lithuania, Estonian Population of 140 million Largest territorial state in the world: 12 former republics Latvia, Lithuania, Estonian Mostly cold and dry Population of 140 million Multicultural state; 30 ethnic internal republics; function as politicalgeographical entities Russia in economic disarray due to failure of the Soviet communist system Major source of raw materials but not manufacture of export products Once a major colonial power; both under the Czar and Soviet Rulers Concentrated development west of the Ural major cities leading industrial regions densest transport networks productive farming areas Multicultural state; 30 ethnic internal republics; function as politicalgeographical entities Russia in economic disarray due to failure of the Soviet communist system Major source of raw materials but not manufacture of export products; except weaponry Mostly cold and dry Once a major colonial power; both under the Czar and Soviet Rulers Concentrated development west of the Ural major cities leading industrial regions densest transport networks productive farming areas 1. North European Plain (Russian Moscow plain: western sub region European Russia; densely populated, Industrial area; Volga River 2. Ural Mountains: low barrier; border between Europe and Asia 3. West Siberian Plain: largest plain, Oil reserves, permafrost, Ob River, Novosibirsk 4. Central Siberian Plateau; Permafrost, sparsely populated, temperature extremes 5. Yakutz Basin: high relief 6. Pacific Mountain Zone or Eastern Highlands - volcanic activity Pacific Plate sinking under Eurasian Plate Lake Baikal 7. Central Asia Ranges 8. Caucuses Mountains; border Russia and Georgia Harsh continental climate long, dry cold winter short warm summer Protected from moderating oceanic winds by mountains to the south high latitude location Size of landmass Port cities of St Petersburg and Vladivostok Agriculture focused in west, where precipitation is maximized Best soils are found in southwest Climate as a Limiting Element Agriculture Affects growing seasons Drought Erosion Settlement patterns and transportation Industry Consumes a lot of energy Specialized, equipment and facilities Permafrost in far north Taiga found in northern Siberian vastness, coniferous forest 1

2 Pre-communists Russia: The Rise of the Russian Empire Russian czar: lived in splendor Serfdom remained in place until mid-1800s Similar to other European colonizers: resources appropriated, private property upheld over communal property Different from other European colonizers: large numbers of Russians migrated in, surpassing indigenous populations The Communist Revolution and its Aftermath During WWI, czar overthrown, Bolsheviks take power Communism: criticizes capitalism for centralization of production in a wealthy minority Redistribution of wealth Centrally planned economy instituted by Stalin Government owned all land and means of production Government directs all economic activity Significant successes and failures World War II and the Cold War Almost single-handedly won WWII 23 million casualties Created buffer of allied Communist countries Cold War confrontation over ideology Arms race, promotion of communism overseas Steady drift away from hard-line communism Dragged down by war in Afghanistan The Former Command Economy Successfully eradicated abject poverty, basic needs met Still, because of inefficiencies, scarcities and gluts No competition, therefore inefficient production methods Products of poor quality and overpriced Lack of technological innovation outside of military, space exploration Soviet Regional Development Schemes Central government in charge of locating industry Spread throughout vast territory to boost standards of living in distant areas Also, protected from enemy attack Cost of transport made industry inefficient Many industries incapable of being sustained after breakup of USSR Transport Issues Water transport: cheapest However, Soviet rivers generally run northsouth Few oceanic ports Land transport: best option Hindered by permafrost, swampy forests, complex upland landscapes, limited car ownership Therefore, USSR (2.5x size of USA) has 1/6 the roads Importance of Trans-Siberian Railway, air transport (expensive) 2

3 The Post-Soviet Years 1985; Gorbachev: glasnost (open-ness), perestroika (restructuring) Failed to solve problems, stoked nationalism Russia: major inheritor of USSR s mantle 1991: other new republics in this region Haphazard transition to free market economies Rollback of democratic reforms in Russia? Boris Yeltsin as President Putin , Medvedev; present Population Patterns European Russia: densest population in the region Wedge from Odessa north to St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk (best farmland) Siberian settlement follows the Trans- Siberian Railway Concentrated in a few cities Russia s demographic disaster Recent Population Changes USSR: Relatively high standard of living and well-being Post-1991, rapidly deteriorating Decline in life expectancy (esp. men) Physical and mental stress from lost jobs and social disruption Alcoholism; 7 million deaths per year Nutritional deficiencies Women choosing not to have children End of Soviet Union unexpected, sudden Increase in: Self-expression and individual initiative Crime and corruption Rise of oligarchs Political participation Cultural and religious revival Decrease in: Employment Pension System; housing, food, and health care for the elderly Civil order Economic Reform in the Post-Soviet Era Democracy slower to develop Russia, Belarus, Central Asia: legislatures are rubber stamps Power of oligarchs over politicians Russia: older people likely to vote for socialists, authoritarians; younger people more reformist, less likely to vote Privatization: government-owned industries sold to private companies or individuals Price Controls Price controls: Initial scarcity during privatization led to massive profits Oligarchs: early profiteers, now powerful 3

4 High energy prices end debt crisis Russia owed 90% of GDP in 1998 Defaulted in 2000, rescheduling contingent on economic reforms By 2008, debt expected to be 12% of GDP New Trading Partners Shift away from intra-regional trade to EU; other Asian countries (India, China) Supplying Oil and Gas to the World Russia s exports: 1 st in world for natural gas; 2 nd in world for oil Gazprom: 10 th largest oil and gas company in the world Oil: over half of Russia s tax receipts Greater Integration with Europe and USA Russia: joining WTO, G8 EU: over 50% of Russia s foreign trade Russia provides 20% of Europe s natural gas The Military in the Post-Soviet Era Cutbacks have created reservoir of discontent Smuggling of nuclear warheads? The Political Status of Women In USSR, women officially equal but had little power in government Women still fare poorly in elections Today, large role in NGO work within country Impatience with the Present, Nostalgia for the Past Modern cities surrounded by rural stagnation In rural areas, great nostalgia for Soviet past Lack of willingness to see painful reforms through Many embrace more authoritarian Putin in hopes he will restore greatness of Russia Capitalism and communism share disregard for environment Soviet Union disregarded environment in quest for industrial development Today, lack of desire, money to deal with environmental damage Lack of unitary government to deal with fallout from USSR s environmental policies Resource Extraction and Environmental Degradation Region has tremendous natural resources Lack of environmental monitoring Some signs of reprieve, but not many Urban and Industrial Pollution Nuclear Pollution Chernobyl: 1986 explosion of a nuclear reactor Soviet military bases east of the Urals 4

5 Irrigation and the Aral Sea Disappearing because of irrigation projects By 2001, 25% original size Huge environmental impact Kazakh efforts to re-fill the sea having some success Living standards beginning to improve in most of the region Increasing inequality within, and between, countries HDI falling for virtually every country in the region GEM data incomplete No equality of women with men 5