III' A NEW GEOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN EURASIA

1
III. A NEW GEOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN EURASIA
2
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
3
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the last leader
of the Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev, last General Secretary of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union, serving from
1985 until its collapse in 1991
May 31, 1988 President Ronald Reagan and Soviet
leader Mikhail Gorbachev walk in Red Square in
Moscow, USSR
4
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
Gorbachev began changes that affected all Soviet
citizens
5
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
Glasnostpolicy of openly discussing the
countrys problems allowed citizens to speak
freely
6
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
Perestroika - "restructuring", referring to major
economic reforms in the Soviet economy
7
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
Soviet people finally became tired of sacrificing
for the communist cause without any gains
1980s - Moscow workers line up outside a store
to buy shoes
1920s Bread Line
8
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
In 1991, the Soviet Union broke apart into 15
independent countries
9
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
The USSR became the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS)
10
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
The CIS serves as a forum by which shared
problems can be addressed
Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States
11
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
Boris Yeltsin was elected president of Russia in
June 1991
President Clinton and President Yeltsin
12
A. Collapse of the Soviet Union
Yeltsin called for more democracy and a market
economy
13
B. Human geography
Today, world news flows more freely
14
B. Human geography
Religious freedom is increasing
Since the end of Soviet rule, up to 60 of
citizens of Russia, including up to 80 of ethnic
Russians, have identified themselves as Eastern
Orthodox Christians. Second largest religion is
Islam, There are also various Protestant faiths,
Roman Catholicism, and Old Believers. There is
some presence of Judaism, Buddhism, and
Krishnaism, as well.
St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow
15
B. Human geography
Democracy is spreading
16
B. Human geography
There are many disputes among the more than 100
ethnic groups and civil wars have broken out
between them
17
C. Economic geography
Economics may create unity, but the republics
face a difficult future because of the Soviet
legacy
Closed Soviet factory
18
C. Economic geography
Some former Soviet republics have privatized
government-owned businesses
19
C. Economic geography
Crime and unemployment have increased
20
C. Economic geography
Russian people are uncertain about the future but
communities are beginning to develop
international ties of their own
21
C. Economic geography
Finding people to be effective local leaders is a
continuing problem
22
D. Environmental concerns
23
D. Environmental concerns
The USSR had little concern for environmental
protection and preservation
24
D. Environmental concerns
The various republics of the CIS have little
money for environmental clean-up