5.5 Geographic Insights: Russia and the Post-Soviet States Review and Self-Test

• 1. Environment, Development, and Urbanization: Development and urbanization in this region have long taken precedence over environmental concerns. The region has severe environmental problems, especially in urban areas.

  • Question

    Describe the challenges posed by the physical environments (landforms and climate) of the various parts of this region: the North European Plain, the Caucasus, the Central Asian steppes, Siberia, and the various mountain ranges (e.g., Urals, Pamirs, Tien Shan).

  • Question

    How did Soviet attitudes contribute to environmental problems? What, if any, solutions have emerged? How have patterns of economic development affected the environment during the last two decades?

  • Question

    The diffusion of Western economic practices has affected Russia and the post-Soviet states. Give examples of how these ideas and methods are changing urban landscapes in the region.
• 2. Climate Change, Food, and Water: Food production systems and water resources are particularly threatened by climate change in parts of this region, yet the region remains the third-largest global producer of greenhouse gases.

  • Question

    Where in this region are food production systems and water resources most threatened by climate change?

  • Question

    Where are irrigated agriculture systems particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures? How can they adapt?

  • Question

    Which parts of this region produce the most greenhouse gases?
• 3. Globalization and Development: Since the fall of the Soviet Union, economic reforms and globalization have changed patterns of development in this region. Many Communist-era industries closed, and as jobs were lost and public assets sold to wealthy oligarchs, wealth disparity increased. The region is now dependent on its role as a leading global exporter of energy resources.

  • Question

    Discuss how the transition from a communist system to a market economy was difficult for Russia and the post-Soviet states. Which areas have benefited and which ones have suffered from recent economic reforms?

  • Question

    Discuss the evidence that Russia’s natural resources are becoming the foundation of a new role for Russia in the global economy and in regional politics. How widely have the benefits from Russia’s new fossil fuel–based economic development been shared? How does the situation in Russia compare with that in Central Asia?
• 4. Power and Politics: Obstacles to democratization include a long history of authoritarian regimes and the popular desire to implement change rapidly, combined with the lack of mechanisms for public participation in the political process.

  • Question

    How have economic and political instability influenced the kind of leaders that have emerged? How have the color revolutions influenced democratization?

  • Question

    Discuss the reasons for the diminishing of Russia’s sphere of influence after 1991 and the changes in Russia’s domestic politics since 2000, which appear to be leading a resurgence of its influence in global politics, particularly in Eurasia.
• 5. Population: Populations are shrinking in many parts of this region. This is a function of a continuously high level of participation by women in the workforce and overall poor living and housing standards.

  • Question

    What Soviet-era developments helped curtail population growth? What is being done in the post-Soviet era to encourage population growth?

  • Question

    How and why has access to health care and other social services changed for so many in this region since the fall of the USSR?
• 6. Gender: Men and women have been differently affected by the massive economic and political changes in this region during the twentieth century. Women have slowly gained economic power, while, on average, men have been adversely affected by economic instability, loss of jobs, and alcoholism.

  • Question

    What is the social standing of women in Russia and the post-Soviet states compared to their standing in other world regions?

  • Question

    How has the gap between men and women changed in terms of economic and political empowerment during the post-Soviet era? What new threats to women have emerged?