World Regions in Global Context:World Regions in Global Context:Peoples, Places, and Environments (3Peoples, Places, and Environments (3rdrd. ed). ed)

Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, & Diana M. Liverman& Diana M. Liverman

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Russian Federation, Central The Russian Federation, Central

Asia, and the Transcaucasus Asia, and the Transcaucasus

Robert M. ArthurRobert M. Arthur

The Russian Federation, Central The Russian Federation, Central Asia, and the TranscaucasusAsia, and the Transcaucasus

Vast Territory, Sparsely PopulatedVast Territory, Sparsely Populated Arctic Sea to the North, Pacific to the East, Arctic Sea to the North, Pacific to the East,

Mountains to the South & Europe to the WestMountains to the South & Europe to the West

Environment & SocietyEnvironment & Society Northerly SituationNortherly Situation Most Ports IceboundMost Ports Icebound Many Rivers:Many Rivers:

• Lena, Kolyma, Ob’, Yenisy, Amur, Dnieper, Don, & VolgaLena, Kolyma, Ob’, Yenisy, Amur, Dnieper, Don, & Volga Largest Land MassLargest Land Mass

The Russian Domain

Physiographic RegionsPhysiographic Regions

Main Regions: Russian Plain, Urals, West Siberian Plain, Main Regions: Russian Plain, Urals, West Siberian Plain, Central Siberian Plain, Desert Plateaus of Central Asia, Central Siberian Plain, Desert Plateaus of Central Asia, & the Southern Mountain Rim& the Southern Mountain Rim

Physiographic RegionsPhysiographic Regions The Russian The Russian

PlainPlain• Sedimentary Sedimentary

DepositsDeposits• MarshyMarshy

West Siberian West Siberian PlainPlain• Extremely Extremely

FlatFlat• Poorly Poorly

DrainedDrained• Mostly Mostly

InhospitableInhospitable• Oil & Gas Oil & Gas

ReservesReserves

Physiographic Physiographic RegionsRegions

Central Siberian Central Siberian PlateauPlateau• UpliftingUplifting• HillyHilly• GorgesGorges

The UralsThe Urals• North-SouthNorth-South• Old, ErodedOld, Eroded• Heavily Heavily

MineralizedMineralized Southern Southern

Mountain RimMountain Rim• Younger Younger

MountainsMountains• Oil, Gas, & CoalOil, Gas, & Coal

Diverse Physical LandscapesDiverse Physical Landscapes

European WestEuropean West

Ural Mountains and Ural Mountains and SiberiaSiberia• TaigaTaiga• PermafrostPermafrost

Russian Far EastRussian Far East

Caucasus and Caucasus and TranscaucasusTranscaucasus

Russian Boreal Forest

Images of RussiaImages of RussiaCossack

Kamchatka Peninsula

ClimateClimate Continental Continental

ClimateClimate• Cold Air Cold Air

From the From the NorthNorth

• Nothing to Nothing to Block ItBlock It

PermafrostPermafrost

• Arid in Arid in Central AsiaCentral Asia

Western Western GeorgiaGeorgia• SubtropicalSubtropical

Climate

Natural LandscapesNatural Landscapes

Seven ZonesSeven Zones• East to WestEast to West

Tundra:Tundra:• Most NortherlyMost Northerly• Arctic WildernessArctic Wilderness• PermafrostPermafrost

Mosses, Lichens, Hardy GrassesMosses, Lichens, Hardy Grasses Reindeer, Fish, Walrus, WaterfowlReindeer, Fish, Walrus, Waterfowl

Natural LandscapesNatural Landscapes TaigaTaiga

• Largest ZoneLargest Zone• Boreal ForestBoreal Forest

Spruce, Fir, & PineSpruce, Fir, & Pine

• Minimal AgricultureMinimal Agriculture

Mixed ForestMixed Forest• Discontinuous in the EastDiscontinuous in the East

Fir, Pine, Larch,, Birch, & Fir, Pine, Larch,, Birch, & OakOak

• Fur Bearing AnimalsFur Bearing Animals

Natural Natural LandscapesLandscapes

Wooded SteppeWooded Steppe• Narrow BandNarrow Band

Trees & GrasslandTrees & Grassland

• Cleared for Cleared for AgricultureAgriculture

SteppeSteppe• GrasslandsGrasslands• AridArid• Chernozem SoilsChernozem Soils

Agricultural Agricultural RegionsRegions

Figure 9.9

Which region is most likely to be dominated by chernozem soils?

Agricultural LandscapesAgricultural Landscapes

Georgia (Caucasus Region)

Wheat in Ukraine

Natural LandscapesNatural Landscapes

Semidesert & DesertSemidesert & Desert• Central AsiaCentral Asia• Boulder Strewn LandscapesBoulder Strewn Landscapes• Salt PansSalt Pans• Nomadic PastoralistsNomadic Pastoralists• Kara-Kum (Black Sands) and Kyzl-Kum (Red Sands)Kara-Kum (Black Sands) and Kyzl-Kum (Red Sands)

Subtropical ForestSubtropical Forest• Western GeorgiaWestern Georgia• Adjoining the Black SeaAdjoining the Black Sea

Environmental Issues – Overview

Environmental HistoryEnvironmental History

Mismanagement of Natural ResourcesMismanagement of Natural Resources• Failure to control pollutionFailure to control pollution

deforestation, overuse of pesticides, soil erosion, air deforestation, overuse of pesticides, soil erosion, air & water pollution, diversion of rivers& water pollution, diversion of rivers

Environmental Issues (cont’d)Environmental Issues (cont’d)Impacts of Soviet Industrialization and Resource Extraction

Environmental Environmental DisastersDisasters

Chernobyl – 1986Chernobyl – 1986• Nuclear MeltdownNuclear Meltdown• 3000 sq. km. dead trees3000 sq. km. dead trees• 25% of Belarus 25% of Belarus

uninhabitableuninhabitable• 1,000 villages 1,000 villages

abandonedabandoned Aral SeaAral Sea

• dropped 33 ft. due to dropped 33 ft. due to irrigationirrigation

• monoculturemonoculture

Lake BaykalLake Baykal World’s deepest lake – 1615 metersWorld’s deepest lake – 1615 meters 20% of all freshwater20% of all freshwater 25 – 50 million years old25 – 50 million years old 2500 plant & animal species2500 plant & animal species

• 75% unique to the lake75% unique to the lake Problems:Problems:

• Over fishingOver fishing• PollutionPollution

DDT, PCB’s, dioxinsDDT, PCB’s, dioxins

• Irkutsk DamIrkutsk Dam Raising water levelRaising water level

The Russian EmpireThe Russian Empire

Principality of MuscovyPrincipality of Muscovy• 5790 sq. km. In 155790 sq. km. In 15thth. C, 22 million sq. km. By 1914. C, 22 million sq. km. By 1914• 1552 Ivan the Terrible defeats Tartars at Battle of Kazan1552 Ivan the Terrible defeats Tartars at Battle of Kazan• Beginning of the RomanovsBeginning of the Romanovs

Peter the Great (1682 – 1725) Catherine the Great (1762 – 1796)Peter the Great (1682 – 1725) Catherine the Great (1762 – 1796)

Russian ExpansionRussian Expansion

Desire for more Land & Subjects Desire for more Land & Subjects • Also a warm water portAlso a warm water port

Expanded territory contiguousExpanded territory contiguous• Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, The CrimeaUkraine, Lithuania, Belarus, The Crimea• Finland, Georgia, ArmeniaFinland, Georgia, Armenia• Central Asia in the mid 18Central Asia in the mid 18thth. C.. C.• Far East in late 18Far East in late 18thth. C. C• Trans-Siberian Railway – 1904Trans-Siberian Railway – 1904

Socialist Revolution - 1917Socialist Revolution - 1917

The Soviet EmpireThe Soviet Empire

State SocialismState Socialism• collectivismcollectivism• AuthoritarianismAuthoritarianism

BolshevicksBolshevicks• central planningcentral planning

New Economic Plan New Economic Plan 1921:1921:• Central control of key Central control of key

industries, foreign industries, foreign trade, & bankingtrade, & banking

LeninLenin• Soviet Socialist Soviet Socialist

RepublicsRepublics• recognized diversityrecognized diversity

StalinStalin• European ExpansionEuropean Expansion• Buffer zoneBuffer zone• Tremendous Tremendous

Russian losses Russian losses during WW IIduring WW II

U.S.S.R.U.S.S.R.

Socialist PlanningSocialist Planning• Egalitarian Egalitarian

PhilosophyPhilosophy• mikrorayanmikrorayan

Drab, similar Drab, similar landscapeslandscapes

Housing for allHousing for all

Collectivization & Collectivization & IndustrializationIndustrialization• Command EconomyCommand Economy

apparatchiksapparatchiks collective farmscollective farms

Satellite StatesSatellite States World War II World War II

Losses:Losses:• 25 million people 25 million people

killedkilled• 1700 towns & cities 1700 towns & cities

destroyeddestroyed• 84,000 villages lost84,000 villages lost• 60% of industrial 60% of industrial

facilities destroyedfacilities destroyed Soviet BlocSoviet Bloc

• ““Iron Curtain”Iron Curtain”• Protective ZoneProtective Zone• COMECONCOMECON

Growth & Cold WarGrowth & Cold War GrowthGrowth

• Territorial Production Territorial Production ComplexesComplexes

• ““Secret Cities”Secret Cities”• Grandiose SchemesGrandiose Schemes

Reverse the flow of riversReverse the flow of rivers

Cold WarCold War• Alternative to Alternative to

CapitalismCapitalism• Nuclear ArsenalNuclear Arsenal• Space RaceSpace Race• Threat to US Threat to US

HegemonyHegemony

Breakup of the EmpireBreakup of the Empire

Economic Stagnation in the 1970sEconomic Stagnation in the 1970s• Failure to deliver consumer goodsFailure to deliver consumer goods• Populace becoming informed of consumerism Populace becoming informed of consumerism

elsewhereelsewhere• Regional inequitiesRegional inequities

The New RealitiesThe New Realities

Shift to capitalism after 70 years of Shift to capitalism after 70 years of central planning is very problematiccentral planning is very problematic• Inefficient industriesInefficient industries• Poor infrastructurePoor infrastructure• Weak & Disorganized EconomyWeak & Disorganized Economy

Requires:Requires:• Civil CodeCivil Code• Banking SystemBanking System• ModernizationModernization• Reorienting economy to the World SystemReorienting economy to the World System

Population and Population and SettlementSettlement

- European Core

- Siberian Hinterlands

- Railroad Lines

PopulationPopulation

Low DensitiesLow Densities 232 Million232 Million Highest Highest

Densities in the Densities in the Southeast – Southeast – Armenia & Armenia & GeorgiaGeorgia

Reasonably High Reasonably High densities in densities in Wooded Steppe Wooded Steppe Region – Around Region – Around MoscowMoscow

Population DynamicsPopulation Dynamics Slow GrowthSlow Growth 1990s – Began to 1990s – Began to

DeclineDecline Regional DifferencesRegional Differences

• Slow in Belarus & Slow in Belarus & Russian FederationRussian Federation

• Central Asia & Central Asia & Transcaucasus, Transcaucasus, High Growth High Growth

Declining healthcareDeclining healthcare• Higher Death RatesHigher Death Rates• Lower Life ExpectancyLower Life Expectancy

Demographic CrisisDemographic Crisis

Persistently declining Persistently declining populationpopulation

Combination of lower Combination of lower fertility and higher fertility and higher mortalitymortality

Social, economic, and Social, economic, and environmental environmental interactions interactions

Languages & Ethnic GroupsLanguages & Ethnic Groups

92 distinct 92 distinct ethnic groupsethnic groups

Slavs in the Slavs in the western, western, densely densely populated populated regionregion

Languages:Languages:• Slavic (west), Slavic (west),

Turkic (central), Turkic (central), Altaic & Paleo-Altaic & Paleo-Siberian (far east Siberian (far east & north east)& north east)

Diaspora & MigrationDiaspora & Migration

Bolshevik revolution caused migration – Bolshevik revolution caused migration –

many to the US many to the US Russians spread out with growth of the Russians spread out with growth of the

empireempire• Encouraged to settle in new areas to read Encouraged to settle in new areas to read

Russian influenceRussian influence

• 80% of Siberia & Far East Russian80% of Siberia & Far East Russian

• 25 million Russians suddenly foreigners25 million Russians suddenly foreigners

• 1990’s saw return migration1990’s saw return migration

• Former Republics backlash against RussiansFormer Republics backlash against Russians

Migration PatternsMigration Patterns

Migration (cont’d)Migration (cont’d)

Eastern Eastern MovementMovement• Trans-Siberian RRTrans-Siberian RR• BAM RRBAM RR

Political MotivesPolitical Motives• Directed migrationDirected migration• Gulag ArchipelagoGulag Archipelago• RussificationRussificationNovosibirsk

Russians in UkraineRussians in Ukraine

Cultural Coherence and DiversityCultural Coherence and Diversity

Dominance of Slavic peoplesDominance of Slavic peoples

Russian empire expansionRussian empire expansion

Linguistic DiversityLinguistic Diversity

Ethnic and Religious Ethnic and Religious DiversityDiversity

Minority Evenki

Russian Orthodox Church

NationalismNationalism

Local NationalismLocal Nationalism• Separation & IrredentismSeparation & Irredentism• Trouble spots in North Caucasus (Chechnya, Ossetia), Trouble spots in North Caucasus (Chechnya, Ossetia),

Transcausus (Armenia, Azerbaijan), and Central Asia (Tajikistan)Transcausus (Armenia, Azerbaijan), and Central Asia (Tajikistan)

NationalismNationalism

Mikhail Gorbachev - Mikhail Gorbachev - 19851985• perestroiyka perestroiyka • glasnostglasnost• Combined with federal Combined with federal

government made government made break-up easierbreak-up easier

Chechen succession Chechen succession announced announced immediatelyimmediately• Russian Federation Russian Federation

has interest in oil fields has interest in oil fields & refining& refining

• Warfare ensued and is Warfare ensued and is continuingcontinuing

Soviet Era Geopolitics

- Bolsheviks - Autonomous Areas- Glasnost - Perestroika

Current Geopolitical FrameworkCurrent Geopolitical Framework

Figures 9.5.1 and 9.5.2

Strategic Space: The Case of Kaliningrad

Russian Exclave

Contemporary ChallengesContemporary Challenges

Transition from Command to Market Economy Transition from Command to Market Economy UnprecedentedUnprecedented

Requires:Requires:• Liberal & Stable Economic PoliciesLiberal & Stable Economic Policies• Eliminate State-Regulated Price ControlsEliminate State-Regulated Price Controls• Create Convertible CurrencyCreate Convertible Currency• Disinvestment of State Owned BusinessesDisinvestment of State Owned Businesses• Development of Entrepreneurial CultureDevelopment of Entrepreneurial Culture• Allowing Foreign Trade & InvestmentAllowing Foreign Trade & Investment• Civil SocietyCivil Society• Pluralist DemocracyPluralist Democracy

Ethno-nationalist movements creating instabilityEthno-nationalist movements creating instability

Current GeopoliticsCurrent Geopolitics Commonwealth of Commonwealth of

Independent States Independent States (CIS)(CIS)

DenuclearizationDenuclearization

Internal Republics of Internal Republics of the Russian the Russian FederationFederation

Regional TensionsRegional Tensions

Groznyy

Vladimir Putin

Economic & Social TransitionEconomic & Social Transition

Uneven distribution of resourcesUneven distribution of resources Regional differences in market reformsRegional differences in market reforms

• Privatization hampered by local bureaucratsPrivatization hampered by local bureaucrats

• Lack of capital & weak regulationsLack of capital & weak regulations

• Agricultural reform slow resulting in loss of Agricultural reform slow resulting in loss of productionproduction

Regional InequalitiesRegional Inequalities Legacy of Soviet InefficiencyLegacy of Soviet Inefficiency

• Agglomeration economiesAgglomeration economies• IncrementalismIncrementalism

Market Forces Have Emphasized Regional DifferencesMarket Forces Have Emphasized Regional Differences Winners:Winners:

• Gateway Regions Gateway Regions (Transportation & Communication Hubs)(Transportation & Communication Hubs)

• Natural Resource Regions Natural Resource Regions (Oil & Gas)(Oil & Gas)

• Rich Agricultural Regions Rich Agricultural Regions (Soil, Climate, Capital)(Soil, Climate, Capital)

• High-Tech RegionsHigh-Tech Regions (Research & Military Facilities) (Research & Military Facilities)

Losers:Losers:• Areas of armed conflictAreas of armed conflict• Resource Poor Regions, The PeripheryResource Poor Regions, The Periphery• ““Smokestack” Industrial Regions Smokestack” Industrial Regions (declining heavy industries)(declining heavy industries)

Core RegionsCore Regions The Central RegionThe Central Region

85% Urban85% Urban

• Historic CoreHistoric Core Central GovernmentCentral Government

• Centered on MoscowCentered on Moscow• Major contributor to Major contributor to

Russian Federation Russian Federation ProductionProduction

80% Textile80% Textile 20% Industrial 20% Industrial Research & Research &

Development Core Development Core associated with Soviet associated with Soviet Military ComplexMilitary Complex

MoscowMoscow Site:Site:

• Center of Russian Center of Russian PlainPlain

• Moskva RiverMoskva River Kremlin, Red Square, Kremlin, Red Square,

Cathedral of St. BasilCathedral of St. Basil

Center for:Center for:• FinanceFinance• Business ServicesBusiness Services• EntertainmentEntertainment

Decline in IndustryDecline in Industry

Urban LandscapesUrban Landscapes

Metropolitan Moscow

Minsk, Belarus

Urban Form in Urban Form in Russian CitiesRussian Cities

Mix of imperial, Mix of imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet, and post-Soviet influencesSoviet influences

City core: most City core: most desirabledesirable

HousingHousing• MikrorayonsMikrorayons• DachaDacha

Downtown Moscow (top)

Moscow Housing (left)

St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg Site:Site:

• Gulf of FinlandGulf of Finland• North EastNorth East• Outside Core RegionOutside Core Region• Considered an ExtensionConsidered an Extension

Center of:Center of:• ShippingShipping• CultureCulture• IntellectualIntellectual• ManufacturingManufacturing

Shipbuilding, Shipbuilding, armaments, electronics, armaments, electronics, chemicalchemical

Famous for its Famous for its Architecture, Urban Architecture, Urban Design & ArtDesign & Art

St. Petersburg, RussiaSt. Petersburg, Russia

Secondary CoreSecondary Core The UralsThe Urals Extensive Natural Extensive Natural

Resources:Resources:• Iron Ore, Many MineralsIron Ore, Many Minerals

Energy – Coal, Oil & Gas Energy – Coal, Oil & Gas Established 1920’sEstablished 1920’s

• Central PlanningCentral Planning• Expanded in WW IIExpanded in WW II• Key Military RegionKey Military Region• 20 million people20 million people• 75 % Urbanized75 % Urbanized• Heavy IndustriesHeavy Industries

Problems:Problems:• Decline of heavy IndustriesDecline of heavy Industries• ObsolescenceObsolescence• PollutionPollution

Gender & InequalityGender & Inequality Economic CrisesEconomic Crises Resulting From:Resulting From:

• InflationInflation• Declining Declining

ProductivityProductivity• Poor Fiscal PoliciesPoor Fiscal Policies

Women hit worstWomen hit worst• Loss of social Loss of social

programsprograms• UnemploymentUnemployment• UnderemploymentUnderemployment• Drop in earningsDrop in earnings• Loss of political Loss of political

powerpower

Social DevelopmentSocial Development

Imperiled by:Imperiled by:• Organized crimeOrganized crime• Harsh economic Harsh economic

timestimes• Housing costsHousing costs• Growing povertyGrowing poverty• Health care crisisHealth care crisis• Lower status of Lower status of

womenwomenMoscow Food Market

Economic Economic Globalization … OilGlobalization … Oil

Sakhalin Island

The TundraThe Tundra

Northern Shores of Arctic OceanNorthern Shores of Arctic Ocean Vast Territory Dominated by Cold & IceVast Territory Dominated by Cold & Ice

• Short growing season – permafrostShort growing season – permafrost• Nomadic Peoples – Samoyed, InuitNomadic Peoples – Samoyed, Inuit• Natural Resources – Coal, Oil & Gas, Minerals, & FishNatural Resources – Coal, Oil & Gas, Minerals, & Fish• Military Installations – Cold WarMilitary Installations – Cold War

World Regions in Global Context:World Regions in Global Context:Peoples, Places, and Environments (3Peoples, Places, and Environments (3rdrd. ed). ed)

Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, & Diana M. Liverman& Diana M. Liverman

End of Chapter 3: The Russian Federation, Central Asia,

and the Transcaucasus