Download Former Soviet Republics Assignment Directions: 1. First, read the

Former Soviet Republics Assignment
Directions:
1. First, read the article “Russia Pressures Former Soviet Republics to Join His Economic Union” from
the Washington Post, September 29, 2013. It’s linked to this assignment on my website.
2. Vocabulary: “suzerain:” having control over a dependent state.
3. Then, read the Al Jazeera article titled: “Two Decades later, ex-Soviet Reject Absolute
Independence.”
a. The title is somewhat misleading. What type of independence does this article speak of?
b. Why are most ex-Soviet republics dissatisfied with independence? Why is Central Asia more
satisfied?
c. Does this author think that other states achieving independence is a good thing? Why or why
not?
4. Next, click on the Guardian article and click on the map. Look over the map.
a. Describe what the each region is doing as independent states.
b. Why do you think Belarus is the most closely tied to Russia?
c. Of the 15 former Soviet Republics, which are in the best shape politically and financially? Why?
5. Finally, click on the BBC link that shows the countries together in comparisons.
a. Which country is the strongest financially? The weakest?
b. Which country is the strongest in health? The weakest?
c. Which country is the strongest democratically? The weakest? How can you tell?
Former Soviet Republics Assignment
Directions:
1.
First, read the article “Russia Pressures Former Soviet Republics to Join His Economic Union” from
the Washington Post, September 29, 2013. It’s linked to this assignment on my website.
2.
Vocabulary: “suzerain:” having control over a dependent state.
3.
Then, read the Al Jazeera article titled: “Two Decades later, ex-Soviet Reject Absolute
Independence.”
a.
The title is somewhat misleading. What type of independence does this article speak of?
b.
Why are most ex-Soviet republics dissatisfied with independence? Why is Central Asia
more satisfied?
c.
Does this author think that other states achieving independence is a good thing? Why or
why not?
4.
Next, click on the Guardian article and click on the map. Look over the map.
a.
Describe what the each region is doing as independent states.
b.
Why do you think Belarus is the most closely tied to Russia?
c.
Of the 15 former Soviet Republics, which are in the best shape politically and financially?
Why?
5.
Finally, click on the BBC link that shows the countries together in comparisons.
a.
Which country is the strongest financially? The weakest?
b.
Which country is the strongest in health? The weakest?
c.
Which country is the strongest democratically? The weakest? How can you tell?