Regions Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has been struggling to build a democracy and a free market economy. It also has sought to regain its influence in world affairs. Such major changes are difficult, however, and the world will watch with great interest as Russia works to become a successful democratic nation. Why is the success of democracy in Russia important to the rest of the world?
Belinsky Yuri/ITAR-TASS/CORBIS
406 • Chapter 15
Russia Today
Belinsky Yuri/ITAR-TASS/CORBIS
Chapter 15 • 407
Social Studies ONLINE To preview Chapter 15, go to glencoe.com.
Section 1: A Changing RussiaBIG IDEA Geographers organize the Earth into regions that share common characteristics. New democratic institutions and a free market economy link the different parts of Russia. These positive changes, however, are threatened by the government’s abuse of power, the spread of corruption in business, and a decline in population.
Section 2: Issues and ChallengesBIG IDEA Geography is used to interpret the past, understand the present, and plan for the future. The change to democracy and a market economy has been difficult for Russia because of its long history of all-powerful governments. The country also faces challenges from ethnic groups that want independence.
Organizing Information Make this Foldable to organize information about political and social changes in Russia and other issues in Russia today.
Step 1 Fold a sheet of paper in half from side to side so that the left edge lies about ½ inch from the right edge.
Step 3 Label the Foldable as shown.
Russia andthe World
Challenges
EconomicRegions
Changes inSociety
PoliticalChanges
A C
hang
ing R
ussia
Reading and Writing Use the notes in your Foldable to create an outline showing the major issues facing Russia today.
Step 2 Cut the top layer only to make five tabs.
Russians relaxing on May Day holiday, St. Petersburg
Reuters/CORBIS
408 • Chapter 15
Geographers organize the Earth
into regions that share common
characteristics.
Content Vocabulary• privatization (p. 409)
• middle class (p. 410)
• underemployment (p. 410)
• pensioner (p. 410)
• heavy industry (p. 411)
• light industry (p. 411)
Academic Vocabulary• comprise (p. 409)
• invest (p. 410)
• volume (p. 411)
Reading StrategyIdentifying Central Issues Use a
diagram like the one below to show
three major effects of the fall of
communism on Russia.
A Changing Russia
Modern-day Matryoshka dolls, St. Petersburg, Russia
The figures below are toys,
art, and a history lesson all in one! Matryoshka
dolls, which fit one inside the other, are popu-
lar toys and have been hand painted in Russia
since the late 1800s. The traditional version of
the Matryoshka shows a Russian woman wear-
ing a babushka (scarf) and an apron. Here, art
becomes history, as the colorful dolls represent
Soviet and Russian leaders (from left to right)
Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and Vladimir
Putin. To learn more about recent changes in
Russia, read Section 1.
Fall of Communism
Ivan Sekretarev/AP Images
Chapter 15 • 409
Changing Politics and SocietyMain Idea Main Idea The fall of communism led to great changes in Russia’s government, economy, and society.Geography and You Can you imagine having to
completely change your way of life? Read to learn how
Russians faced that situation in the early 1990s.
Russia is still adjusting to the changes
that occurred in the 1990s. When commu-
nism fell in 1991, Russia was forced to build
a new government and economy. These
ongoing changes continue to greatly affect
the everyday lives of the Russian people.
A New Form of GovernmentThe Communist Party ruled Rus-
sia when it was part of the Soviet Union.
The Communists did not allow people to
challenge their power, and everyday citi-
zens had no voice in choosing their lead-
ers. After the fall of communism, however,
Russia became more democratic.
In a 1993 election, Russian voters
approved a new constitution and elected
members of a legislature to represent them.
This new legislature included candidates
from many different political parties. Boris
Yeltsin, who was Russia’s leader when it
was a Soviet republic, was elected the first
president of Russia.
Russia’s official name is the Russian
Federation. This name reflects the fact that
Russia comprises, or is made up of, many
different regions and territories. Like the
United States, Russia is a federal repub-
lic, with power divided between national
and regional governments. In the United
States, some powers belong to the states,
and others belong only to the national gov-
ernment. Some powers are shared by both
levels of government. In Russia, the divi-
sion of powers is less clear because the new
Russian government is still developing.
A New Economic SystemAs part of the Soviet Union, Russia had
a command economy. In a command econ-
omy, the central government makes all the
economic decisions. Since the fall of com-
munism, Russia has attempted to shift to a
market economy.
To create a market economy, the gov-
ernment introduced privatization
(pry∙vuh∙tuh∙ZAY∙shuhn). This is the
transfer of ownership of businesses from
the government to individuals. In the new
system, businesses have to compete with
one another. As a result, Russian compa-
nies have begun to advertise to attract cus-
tomers. The government has also dropped
price controls, which were official prices
set for different goods and services. In a
market economy, prices result from com-
petition among companies and from what
Russian consumers need, want, and are
willing to pay.
Voting in Russia
Voters in Russia today can choose from many political parties and groups. Regions What role did most citizens have in their government when Russia was part of the Soviet Union?
•
AP Images
410 • Chapter 15
Changes in SocietyWith the end of Communist rule, the
government loosened its control on Russian
society. Many different political parties were
able to organize. Russians were allowed to
criticize leaders and their policies. Addition-
ally, the government no longer controlled
the content of news reports or books.
Along with political freedom, Russians
began to have more contact with other
cultures. American and European books,
television shows, and CDs became more
readily available to Russians. Many people
embraced the new ideas, music, and fash-
ions that became available.
Russia’s new economy led to the spread
of consumerism—the desire to buy goods.
Russians eagerly sought goods they had
not been able to buy for years. Businesses
prospered, and a Russian middle class
emerged. This term refers to a social group
that is neither very rich nor poor, but has
enough money to buy cars, new clothing,
electronics, and other luxury items.
The new economic system gave work-
ers freedom to quit their jobs and seek
employment elsewhere. Russians who
were willing to take risks could open their
own businesses. People also could invest,
or put money into businesses run by others,
in the hope of making even more money.
This new economic freedom, however, did
not guarantee success. Both new businesses
and old businesses, which were no longer
supported by the government, failed. Some
tried to stay open by firing workers to cut
costs. Other businesses simply could not
compete and closed, putting more Russians
out of work. Some skilled Russian workers
still face underemployment, which means
they are forced to take jobs that require
lesser skills than they have. Many people
must work second jobs to survive.
The unsettled economy is also difficult
for pensioners (PEHN∙shuh∙nuhrs). Pen-
sioners are people who receive regular
payments from the government because
they are too old or too sick to work. The
amount of these payments is usually fixed,
or remains the same. When prices rise
but the amount of the payments does not
increase, it becomes difficult for pension-
ers to buy goods. These problems caused
many Russians to oppose privatization.
Population ChangesRussia’s population also has experienced
change. During Soviet times, many ethnic
Russians moved to other parts of the Soviet
Union. When these republics became inde-
pendent, the ethnic Russians often were no
longer welcome. About 3 million of them
decided to return to Russia. People of other
Russia’s New Economy
Department stores and large discount stores are opening in Russia as the economy grows and people have more money to spend on consumer goods. Place What is the middle class?
•
Life Expectancies: Russia and Europe
CountryAverage Life Expectancy
Men Women
Sweden 78 83
Italy 77 83
France 76 84
Germany 76 82
Poland 71 79
Russia 60 74
Source: CIA World Factbook, 2006.
1 Identifying Which country has the highest average life expec-tancy for women?
2 Explaining Why are life expec-tancies in Russia lower than those in most of Europe?
Chapter 15 • 411
ethnic groups also left for Russia to escape
hardships in the new republics.
Despite this arrival of immigrants, Rus-
sia’s population declined from 150 million
people in 1991 to 143 million in 2006. This
decline is the result of a combination of
low birthrates and rising death rates. The
life expectancy of men has decreased to 60
years, compared with 74 years for women.
These rates are well below those of other
developed countries.
The sharp decline in life expectancy is
a result of poor nutrition, alcoholism, and
drug abuse. Also, pollution has led to more
lung diseases. Meanwhile, government
spending on health care has dropped.
Comparing How is
Russia’s government similar to that of the
United States?
Russia’s Economic RegionsMain Idea Main Idea Russia’s four economic regions differ in the resources and products they supply.Geography and You How does your community
contribute to your state’s or the nation’s economy? Read
to learn how Russia’s different regions contribute to the
Russian economy.
The Moscow RegionMoscow is the political, economic, and
transportation center of Russia. A large
amount of manufacturing takes place in or
near Moscow. Under Soviet rule, most of
Russia’s factories focused on heavy industry,
or the production of goods such as machin-
ery, mining equipment, and steel. After
communism’s fall, more factories shifted to
light industry, or the production of consumer
goods, such as clothing and household
products. High technology and electronics
industries have also developed in Moscow.
St. Petersburg and the Baltic RegionSt. Petersburg and the Baltic region are
located in northwestern Russia. St. Peters-
burg, once Russia’s capital, is a major port
and cultural center. Well-known for its pal-
aces and churches, St. Petersburg attracts
thousands of tourists from around the
world each year.
Located near the Baltic Sea, St. Peters-
burg is an important trading center. A
high volume, or amount, of goods passes
through its port. The city is also a major
industrial center. Factories here make
machinery, ships, automobiles, and other
items. St. Petersburg relies on other regions
for food, fuel, and other resources.
412 • Chapter 15
Kaliningrad is another major Russian
port along the Baltic Sea. It lies in a small
piece of Russian land, about the size of the
state of Connecticut, between Poland and
Lithuania. This small area of Russia is iso-
lated from the country’s main area. Goods
shipped to Kaliningrad must cross other
countries to reach the nearest inland part
of Russia. Kaliningrad is Russia’s only port
on the Baltic Sea that stays ice-free all year.
The Volga and Urals RegionThe Volga and Urals region lies south
and east of Moscow. It is a major center
of manufacturing and farming. The Volga
River is vital to these economic activities.
This 2,300-mile (3,701-km) waterway car-
ries nearly half of Russia’s river traffic. The
Volga River also supplies water for hydro-
electric power and for irrigation. Farmers
in the region grow large amounts of wheat,
sugar beets, and other crops.
The area of the Ural Mountains is a major
source for Russian resources. The moun-
tains contain important minerals, includ-
ing copper, gold, lead, nickel, and bauxite,
as well as energy resources.
SiberiaSiberia’s cold Arctic winds, rugged land-
scapes, and frozen ground make it diffi-
cult to take advantage of the region’s many
resources. The lands of Siberia hold valu-
able deposits of iron ore, uranium, gold,
and coal. Timber from the sprawling taiga
is also an important resource for Russia.
Since resources in other parts of the world
are being used up, Russia’s economic
future may depend on its ability to make
use of Siberia’s resources.
Categorizing Which of
Russia’s economic regions are important for
manufacturing? For agriculture?
Vocabulary1. Explain the significance of:
a. privatization d. pensioner
b. middle class e. heavy industry
c. underemployment f. light industry
Main Ideas2. Describing Describe some of the freedoms
the Russian people gained after the fall of
communism.
3. Explaining Create a chart like the one below
to list at least two ways each economic region
contributes to the Russian economy.
Region Contributions
Critical Thinking4. Analyzing Information Why have some
Russians opposed the privatization of indus-
tries and businesses?
5. Compare and contrast the cities of
Moscow and St. Petersburg in terms of loca-
tion and economic activity.
6. Challenge What might happen to a country
if it cannot obtain and make use of its own
available resources?
Writing About Geography7. Persuasive Writing Write an editorial to
support or oppose the changes that the new
democratic Russian government made after
the fall of communism.
Section ReviewSocial Studies ONLINEStudy Central™ To review this section, go to glencoe.com.
AP Photo
PERSPECTIVES
EXPLORINGEXPLORING
WORLDWORLDISSUESISSUES
Russians are enjoying new Russians are enjoying new
freedoms under democracy. freedoms under democracy.
But are their freedoms threatened?But are their freedoms threatened?Russians attend a political rally.
ince the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russians have worked hard to turn their
country into a democracy with a free market system. Today, many Russians have more freedom than ever. As a result of recent reforms, citizens can now own private businesses and elect their leaders.
The new freedoms, however, have also brought new challenges. Cor-ruption has risen among government and private workers. A minority group in Chechnya has carried out terror-ist acts that have killed hundreds. As Russia’s government combats these challenges, experts wonder if Russia’s new freedoms could be lost.
S
AP PHOTO
Who Russia Trades With
INTERPRETING GraphsAnalyzing Information On what continent are Russia’s three top export partners located?
Wolfgang Kaehler/CORBIS
414 Russia’s Challenging Road to Democracy
EXPLORINGEXPLORING
WORLDWORLDISSUESISSUESPERSPECTIVES
WO
LFG
AN
G
KA
EH
LER
/CO
RB
IS
Increased housing construction is a sign of Russia’s growing economy.
With territory that extends from Europe to Asia, Russia is the
largest country in the world. Through-out its history, Russia has faced many great challenges. For centuries Russia was ruled by czars, or absolute rulers. In 1922, following a violent revolution, Russia became part of a group of repub-lics called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.).
The U.S.S.R. had a Communist gov-ernment that was very powerful and controlling. The U.S.S.R.’s Communist rulers often kept information about the country secret from the outside world. British prime minister Winston Churchill once called the U.S.S.R. “a riddle wrapped in a mystery.”
The government controlled nearly every part of Soviet society. It owned
all property and businesses and told citizens what they could do for a living and where they would live. Those suspected of disagreeing with the government were sent to labor camps in Siberia, a brutally cold area in eastern Russia. During the Soviet era, millions of people were imprisoned, executed, or tortured.
A New ChapterOver time, the Soviet Union began
to decline under its harsh system. Many citizens were assigned jobs they did not like. Many of those people were unin-spired and did not work very hard. As a result, production suffered, and there were all types of shortages, including food and energy.
In the mid-1980s, the Soviet Union’s leaders tried to reform the nation’s Communist system. They introduced
the policies of glasnost and perestroika. Glas-nost is a Russian word that means “openness.” Perestroika means “re-structuring.” Under glasnost, people were allowed to speak their opinions freely for the first time ever. Perestroika gave some of the government’s decision-making power to private individuals and businesses.
WHERE WILL REFORMS LEAD?
In 2005, Russia exported $245 billion worth of goods. These are its top export partners.
Source: CIA World Factbook, 2006.
(l c) AP Photo, (r) Peter Blakely/CORBIS SABA
Russia’s Challenging Road to Democracy 415
A Russian family shops at a modern mall in Moscow.
U.S. president George W. Bush meets with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Oil wells such as this one dot the Siberian landscape.
AP P
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Not everyone, however, agreed with these reforms. Conservatives who sup-ported the Communist Party and the military tried to take control of the So-viet government. Their attempt failed and eventually led to the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. Since then, the Rus-sian government and people have been working to change their country into a democracy.
Some of these changes have been successful. Russians now elect their leaders in free and open elections. Under the Soviet system, only members of the Communist Party could vote. Economic reforms have also been in-troduced to create a free market econ-omy. Russians can now own their own factories, shops, and other businesses. Companies are buying materials to help them grow in the future. As a result of the reforms, the economy has grown.
A Long Road to DemocracyAs successful as the economic
reforms have been, many experts believe Russia has a long way to go before it has a stable democracy. The reforms have brought freedom, but they have also created new challenges. Criminal gangs and corruption thrive in Russia’s open market. Many people must secretly pay offi cials to get drivers’ licenses and permits to build houses and businesses.
Other challenges threaten Russia’s security. In Chechnya, an area in south-ern Russia, rebels have been at war with the government since 1994. The rebels
want Chechnya to be an independent nation. They have carried out terror-ist attacks against Russia. Hundreds of innocent people, including children, have died.
An Uncertain FutureSome experts think that the chal-
lenges Russia faces could weaken the nation’s young democracy. They worry that the new freedoms are in danger of being lost as the government works to stop corruption and improve security. Critics of Russia’s president Vladimir Putin have complained that, under his leadership, the government has abused civil liberties, or individual freedoms, and attacked democratic institutions like the free media.
Is a lasting democracy possible in Russia? The Russian people have a long history of dealing with diffi cult times and challenges. The future will tell whether history’s lessons will be enough to establish democracy in the world’s largest country.
EXPLORINGEXPLORING THE ISSUETHE ISSUE
1.1 . Making Inferences How might wide-spread government corruption threaten democracy in Russia?
2 .2 . Identifying Cause and Effect How do you think glasnost and per-estroika contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union?
Smolsky Sergei/ITAR-TASS/CORBIS
416 Russia’s Challenging Road to Democracy
PERSPECTIVES
In recent years, Russia has suffered a series of deadly terrorist attacks by
Chechen rebels. In 2004 terrorists took control of a school and killed more than 300 people, including many children. Other bombings took place at bus and train stations. Altogether, more than 500 people were killed in 2004 as a re-sult of terrorist attacks.
The attacks have shocked and an-gered the people of Russia. In Septem-ber 2004, Russians fi lled the streets of St. Petersburg and Moscow to protest terrorism against their country. Many carried signs with antiterrorism slo-gans. Some read, “We won’t give Russia to terrorists.”
The demonstrators believed rebels from Chechnya were responsible for the attacks in 2004. In 2005, however, the violence continued as Chechen rebels set off another bomb in a village in the Caucasus region. The explosion killed 14 people.
A Bitter HistoryThe people of Chechnya want to
form their own country. Most Chech-ens are Muslims, which sets them apart from Russians, who tend to be Christians. Russia fi rst conquered Chechnya in 1858, but Chechens never accepted Russian rule. In 1991 Chechnya declared independence, but Russia would not allow it. Russians believe the territory belongs to them. In 1994 Russia went to war against the Chechen rebels. Hundreds of thousands of Chechens died in the fi ghting.
In 1996 Chechnya won the right to elect its own government, but it re-mained part of Russia. When Chechen attacks continued, Russian president Vladimir Putin sent troops back into the region in 1999.
Will there be peace? Putin said he would not make deals with terrorists. He said the violence was a “full-scale war.” Still, the ongoing hostility puts pressure on Russian and Chechen leaders to fi nd a way to end this deadly confl ict.
TERROR IN RUSSIA
Russians protested the terrorist attacks.
1 .1 . Explaining Why does Vladimir Putin call the violence a “full scale war”?
2 .2 . Making Inferences Why might the Chechen rebels feel that Chechnya should be free?
EXPLORINGEXPLORING THE ISSUETHE ISSUE
SMO
LSK
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ER
GEI/IT
AR
-TA
SS/C
OR
BIS
AP Photo
Russia’s Challenging Road to Democracy 417
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE
Making Connections How might glasnost and perestroika have con-tributed to the creation of new ideas and ways of doing business?
Writing to Inform Suppose you are a Russian student. Write a letter to an American friend explaining some of the new freedoms that Russian citizens enjoy.
Writing to Persuade Russia has large amounts of natural resources, like oil and timber, and a well-educated population. Write a brief essay about how these strengths might help Russia build a strong democracy.
INTERNET RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Like today’s Russia, the United States had a weak banking system when it was fi rst founded. With your teacher’s help, browse the Internet to learn how the U.S. strengthened its early banking system. List ways Russia might learn from the U.S. experience.
Important industries in Russia, like steel and manufacturing, need to be modernized. Browse the Internet for information about how Russia plans to update one of these industries. Share your fi ndings with the class.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Visit your school or local library to learn more about the Soviet Union’s labor camps in Siberia. Work in a group to fi nd out what it was like to live in a camp. What hardships did those living in the camps have to endure? Present your fi ndings to your classmates.
Research other nations, such as Great Britain and Spain, that have had to fi ght terrorism. What might Russia learn from those nations in dealing with Chechnya? Put your fi ndings in a report.
Russia’s Natural Resources
Russia is a vast country that holds many of the world’s natural resources. The map shows where some of Russia’s resources are located.
A Russian worker produces steel at a
metallurgy plant in the Ural Mountains.
1 .1 . Analyzing Information Based on the map’s key, what type of work might prisoners in Sibe-rian labor camps have done?
2 .2 . Drawing Conclusions Why might Russia want to protect its interests in its southwest?
Building Map Building Map Reading SkillsReading Skills
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REV I EW AND A S S E S SREV I EW AND A S S E S S1
2
3
4
6
7
5
Richard Nowitz/National Geographic Image Collection
418 • Chapter 15
Geography is used to interpret the
past, understand the present, and plan
for the future.
Content Vocabulary• decree (p. 419)
• oligarch (p. 420)
• deposit insurance (p. 421)
• separatist movement (p. 421)
Academic Vocabulary• prior (p. 419)
• unify (p. 421)
• conduct (p. 421)
Reading StrategyAnalyzing Information Use a
diagram like the one below to identify
the changes, both positive and negative,
that have resulted from Russia’s switch
to a free market economy.
Issues and Challenges
Most popular possession in Russia
What do you think is the
most popular possession in Russia? A car? A
computer? No, it is most likely a cell phone.
The popularity of cell phones has skyrocketed
in Russia. Russia has a growing middle class
with money to spend. Young business-savvy
Russians are starting companies that pro-
vide trendy and modern products––like cell
phones––to this middle class. As the number
of cell phone businesses has increased, so has
cell phone use. It is estimated that in 1996,
only 10,000 people in Moscow owned cell
phones, which cost about $2,000 each! Now
80 million Russians, or about 60 percent of the
population, own cell phones, which cost about
$100 each. The economy is just one part of
Russia that is changing. Read on to learn more
about modern Russia’s challenges.
Russia’s Changing Economy
Reuters/CORBIS
Chapter 15 • 419
Social Studies ONLINEStudent Web Activity Visit glencoe.com and complete the
Chapter 15 Web Activity about Russia’s government.
Political and Economic ChallengesMain Idea Main Idea Russians face many chal-lenges as they try to build a democracy and a market economy.Geography and You Do you think a country needs
strong leaders to solve serious problems? Can leaders
become too strong? Read to learn about growing chal-
lenges to Russia’s democracy and free market economy.
Even with its many resources and indus-
trial power, Russia is finding it difficult to
make its new government and economy
successful. Prior to 1991, Russians had lit-
tle experience with democratic govern-
ment. Now many political parties compete
in free elections. Also, after communism’s
fall, Russians began to make their own eco-
nomic decisions.
Roadblocks to DemocracyBecoming truly democratic has not been
easy for Russia. Confusion over govern-
mental powers is one problem. For exam-
ple, the Russian president’s power to issue
decrees—rulings that have the force of law
but do not need the approval of the legisla-
ture—might make that office too strong.
Since becoming president in 1999, Vlad-
imir Putin has strengthened presidential
powers. When people began to criticize
government policies, Putin shut down all
independent television news networks.
Newspapers still remain free, but televi-
sion news in Russia is subject to govern-
ment control.
Russia is a federal republic. Power is
shared among national, regional, and local
governments. To ensure that regional lead-
ers would obey his wishes, Putin organ-
ized the country into seven large districts
and appointed governors who would sup-
port his policies.
Throughout Russian government, many
politicians disregard democratic ways. The
courts and the legal system often favor rich,
powerful citizens. In addition, many Rus-
sians still understand little about their gov-
ernment and, therefore, do not know how
to make changes in the way it works.
Freedom in Russia
Russians gather in central Moscow to watch a televised news conference given by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Regions How has Putin responded to criticisms of his rule?
•
LakeBaikal
BarentsSea
BeringSea
Sea ofOkhotsk
Sea ofJapan
(East Sea)
Baltic Sea
Casp
ian
Sea
BlackSea
ARCTIC OCEAN
EUROPE
ASIA
60°N
40°N
60°N
160°E
180°
140°E
120°E80°E
60°E
40°E
20°E
0°
80°N
NORTH POLE
PRIME MERIDIAN
AR
CTI
CC
IRC
LE
St. Petersburg
Rostov-na-Donu
NizhnyNovgorod
Yekaterinburg
Novosibirsk
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MoscowR U S S I A
CENTRAL
SOUTHERN
NORTHWEST
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FAR EASTERN
VOLGA$180
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1,000 miles
1,000 kilometers
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Two-Point Equidistant projection
N
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Monthly per capita income in U.S. dollars,May 2005 National capital City
1 Place How does the per capita income in the central region compare to incomes in the south-ern region?
2 Regions Why do you think the Urals and far eastern regions have higher per capita incomes?
Shifting to a Market EconomyRussia’s shift to a free market economy
has brought many positive changes. New
companies have been started, and some
personal incomes have risen. Higher prices
for Russia’s oil and natural gas exports
have brought the country more income.
Economic success, however, has brought
an increase in crime and business corrup-
tion. A small group of people, often referred
to as oligarchs, control various parts of
the economy. An oligarch (AH∙luh∙gahrk)
is a member of a small group of rulers that
holds great power. In Russia, oligarchs
are often corrupt business leaders. Putin
has limited the power of some of these
oligarchs, but to do so, he has had to
strengthen government authority.
Another problem is that the benefits
of economic change have not reached all
of Russia’s people. A few Russians have
grown wealthy, but some have become
even poorer. There are also strong regional
differences in economic success. Figure 1shows the average income per capita—or
per person—in Russia’s seven districts.
Russia’s Per Capita Income Figure 1
See StudentWorks™ Plus or glencoe.com.
Khasan Kaziyev/AFP/Getty Images
Chapter 15 • 421
Monthly incomes in Moscow are much
higher compared to other cities and areas
of the country.
Russia’s banking system also has not
been able to fully contribute to economic
growth. Banks play a vital role in an econ-
omy by collecting people’s deposits and
lending some of that money to other peo-
ple. These people borrow the money to buy
houses and cars or to start new businesses.
All of these actions help create jobs within
a region’s economy. Greater savings means
there is more money to loan, which in turn
helps strengthen the economy. If people
do not have enough money to deposit into
savings, though, banks have fewer funds
to lend and the economy suffers.
Many Russians, however, do not trust
the country’s banks. To encourage people
to save their money, the government cre-
ated a deposit insurance system, which
will repay people who deposit their money
in a bank if the bank goes out of business.
Officials hope this system will make peo-
ple feel safer and more willing to use the
banking system.
Challenges to National UnityWhile dealing with economic issues,
Russians have had to face challenges to
their country’s political unity. Regional
rivalries have increased in recent years.
Such resentments have made it difficult to
unify, or bring together, the country. An
even larger challenge is the desire of many
ethnic groups to form their own indepen-
dent countries.
When the Soviet Union fell, sev-
eral ethnic groups in Russia saw a
chance for independence. They launched
separatist movements, campaigns to break
away from the national government and
form independent countries. One of the
most violent separatist movements began
in Chechnya, a Muslim region near the
Caucasus Mountains in southern Russia.
In the early 1990s, Russia’s President
Boris Yeltsin gave Chechnya more self-
rule, but many Chechens (CHEH∙chehnz)
wanted complete independence from Rus-
sia. Yeltsin did not want to allow Chechen
separatists to succeed, believing that other
regions would also demand independence.
In 1994 he sent a large Russian army into
Chechnya to crush Chechen forces. Both
sides suffered heavy losses.
The Chechen separatists continued
to conduct, or carry out, terrorist attacks
against the Russian government. Truces
and agreements between the two sides
have failed, and the situation remains
unresolved.
Describing Identify and
describe a major challenge to Russian unity.
Conflict in Chechnya
Chechens buy watermelons as Russian soldiers guard a shopping area in Grozny, Chechnya’s capital. Place Why did conflict break out in Chechnya?
•
422 • Chapter 15
Russia and the World
Main Idea Main Idea Although Russia remains a world power, other nations have ques-tioned some of its actions.
Geography and You How do good relations among
neighbors build a stronger community? Read to learn
about Russia’s relations with the rest of the world.
As a major world power, Russia plays
an important role in world affairs. In
recent years, it has worked to strengthen
ties with other countries. Russia sees the
war in Chechnya, for example, as a strug-
gle against terrorism. As a result, it agreed
in 2002 to support the United States
and other NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
Organization) countries in fighting global
terrorist activities.
Still, the United States and other coun-
tries are concerned about President
Vladimir Putin’s growing power and his
declining support for democracy. Mean-
while, Russia has uneasy relations with
some of the countries that were once part
of the Soviet Union. Some Russian leaders
have said they would like to see Russian
influence increase, which worries people
in these former Soviet countries. In 2004
Putin supported a pro-Russian candidate
in Ukraine’s presidential election—a posi-
tion many Ukrainians protested. While
other neighboring countries are sometimes
unhappy with Russia’s actions, they also
know they depend on Russia for certain
resources, such as oil and natural gas.
Analyzing Information
Why has Russia supported the global war
against terrorism?
Vocabulary1. Explain the meaning of the following terms
by using each in a sentence.
a. decree c. deposit insurance
b. oligarch d. separatist movement
Main Ideas2. Identifying Use a diagram like the one
below to identify challenges to the growth of
democracy in Russia.
3. Explaining Why are some of Russia’s neigh-
bors concerned with recent Russian actions?
Critical Thinking4. Identifying Cause and Effect How has the
rapid change to a democratic government
affected the Russian people’s involvement in
government? What drawback has this swift
change created?
5. What factors create challenges to
Russian unity?
6. Challenge Describe the influence of banking
on a country’s economy.
Writing About Geography7. Using Your Use your Foldable to
write a paragraph predicting how successful
Russia’s change to a democracy and free mar-
ket economy will be. Be sure to support your
prediction with facts.
Section ReviewSocial Studies ONLINEStudy Central™ To review this section, go to glencoe.com.
Challenges to Democracy
Study anywhere, anytime! Download quizzes and
flash cards to your PDA from glencoe.com.
(t) Buddy Mays/CORBIS, (cl) Alexey Danichev/AFP/Getty Images, (bl) transit/Peter Arnold, Inc., (br) AP Images
Chapter 15 • 423
Visual SummaryVisual Summary Communism
to Democracy● After communism’s fall, Russia
became more democratic.
● Russia is a federal republic, with
power divided among national,
regional, and local governments.
● Russia has been moving from a
command economy to a market
economy.
Changes in Society
● Russians now can vote freely and
have increased contact
with the cultures of
other countries.
● The switch to a
market economy
has benefited some
Russians while
bringing hardships to
others.
● Low birthrates and
rising death rates have
led to a decline in
Russia’s population.
Economic Regions
● Moscow, with its many industries,
is the economic center of Russia.
● Ports in the St. Petersburg and
Baltic region carry on trade
between Russia and other
countries.
● The Volga and Urals region is a
center of manufacturing, mining,
and farming.
● Siberia’s resources are difficult
to tap because of the area’s
remoteness and harsh climate.
Challenges ● The increasing power of Russia’s
president has placed limits on
democracy.
● Crime and business corruption
have grown in Russia.
● Some ethnic groups want to
separate from Russia and form
their own countries.
Russia and the World
● Russian leaders have worked
to strengthen Russia’s ties with
the West.
● Russia has uneasy relations with
some of the countries that were
once part of the Soviet Union.
Young Russians playing chess
Russia’s duma, or parliament, in session
Cargo ship on Volga River
Vladimir Putin (right) meets with a South African leader
424 • Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
Reviewing VocabularyDirections: Choose the word(s) that best completes the sentence.
1. In order to create a market economy, the Russian government legalized .
A underemployment
B privatization
C heavy industry
D light industry
2. Due to changes in Russia’s new economy, many people are , which means they have to take jobs requiring lesser skills than they have.
A unemployed
B privatized
C underemployed
D invested
3. A(n) is a member of a small ruling group that controls great power.
A decree
B pensioner
C separatist
D oligarch
4. When the Soviet Union fell, several ethnic groups in Russia launched .
A separatist movements
B privatization efforts
C light industries
D oligarchies
5. A Russian president may issue , or rulings that have the force of law and do not need the approval of the legislature.
A vetos
B decrees
C opinions
D considerations
Reviewing Main IdeasDirections: Choose the best answer for each question.
Section 1 (pp. 408–412)
6. A new market economy took root in Russia after
A World War II.
B the fall of communism.
C separatist movements.
D a middle class emerged.
7. After the fall of communism, there was a manu-facturing shift toward more
A heavy industry.
B oligarchy.
C light industry.
D separatist movements.
Section 2 (pp. 418–422)
8. A problem that has accompanied Russia’s shift to a free market economy is
A starting up new companies.
B higher prices for gas and oil exports.
C the deposit insurance system.
D the rise of business oligarchs.
9. Other nations in the world have questioned some of Russia’s actions, including the
A growing power of the Russian president.
B establishment of free elections.
C creation of a market economy.
D creation of a deposit insurance program.
GO ON
STANDARDIZED TEST PRACTICE
TEST TAKING TIP
Do not pick an answer choice just because it sounds good. Sometimes a choice is meant to sound correct but is not. Read all of the answer choices very carefully before you select the best one.
Need Extra Help?
Chapter 15 • 425
If you missed question. . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Go to page. . . 409 410 420 421 419 409 411 420 422 420 420 419 419 420
Social Studies ONLINE
For additional test practice, use Self-Check Quizzes—
Chapter 15 at glencoe.com.
STOP
ASSESSMENT
Critical ThinkingDirections: Base your answers to questions 10 and 11 on the chart below. Choose the best answer for each question.
GNP Per Capita in U.S. Dollars
Year(s) Russia United States France Germany
1991 $3,470 $22,340 $20,460 $20,510
1992 2,820 23,830 22,300 23,360
1993 2,350 24,750 22,360 23,560
1994 2,650 25,860 23,470 25,580
1995 2,240 26,980 24,990 27,510
1996 2,410 28,020 26,270 28,870
1997 2,680 29,080 26,300 28,280
1998 2,260 29,240 24,210 26,570
1999 2,250 31,910 24,170 26,620
2000 1,660 34,100 24,090 25,120
2001 1,750 34,280 22,730 23,560
GNP per capita is the dollar value of a country’s final output of goods and services
in a year (its GNP), divided by its population. It reflects the average income of a
country’s citizens.
Source: http://world.britannica.com/analyst/chrono/table
10. What happened to Russia’s GNP per capita dur-ing the period shown?
A It jumped rapidly between 1999 and 2000.
B It rose gradually.
C It declined drastically.
D It grew following 1997.
11. Which nation’s GNP per capita increased the most between 1991 and 2001?
A United States
B Germany
C Russia
D France
Document-Based QuestionsDirections: Analyze the document and answer the short-answer questions that follow.
“Things Fall Apart–Russia After the Fall of Communism”
The break-up of the USSR and the failures of economic reform have hurt primarily the elderly and the chil-dren. In addition, the systems of social services, educa-tion, and health care also fell apart. The fabric of society changed with the disappearance of values and morals. Secrecy and [control] were quickly replaced by the power of money. . . . In the past there was a com-mon expression–”Without papers you are a bug, but with papers, you are a man”–which meant that you were constantly required to ask permission from a countless army of [government offi cials] . . . . Now you cannot expect to be treated with respect unless your pocket is full of a wad of “greens.” . . . It doesn’t matter if you earned this money by [illegal activities or] selling drugs . . . . Your social status will be much higher than that of an engineer, a professor, or a doctor.
—by Nikolai Zlobin World Aff airs, Winter, 1996
12. According to the writer, who has been most seri-ously affected by the “new” Russia after the fall of communism? Why?
13. How does the writer feel that Russian society has changed since the breakup of the USSR?
Extended Response14. Do you believe Russia’s transition to a market
economy has been good for the country or caused more harm than good? Write a short essay in which you choose one side of the argu-ment. Defend your position by using examples.
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