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Russia
Population and Culture
Population Patterns
• The People
– Russia has grown from a small territory to an empire that stretches from Europe
to the Pacific Ocean, and includes many different ethnic groups.
• During the Soviet era political boundaries reflected the locations of major
ethnic groups.
• After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia became an independent country.
• Although 32 ethnic groups have their own republics within Russia, 80
percent of the population is still ethnically Russian.
– Slavs
• Ethnic Russians are part of a larger ethnic group known as Slavs.
– A branch of Indo- European people that includes the Poles, Serbs and
the Ukrainians
– Russia’s politics and culture have been dominated by Russian Slavs
– Caucasian
• This group earns its name because it lives in the Caucasus region of Russia.
– Includes the Chechens, Dagestanis, and Ingushetians
– Turkic Peoples
• This group lives in southwestern Russia, the Caucasus area and in the
middle Volga area, however, most numerous are the Tatars.
• Most of the Tatars live in the Tatarstan region, an area that has been under
Russian rule since the mid- 1550s.
• Another group are the Sakha, a combination of local groups and Turkic
people.
• Density and Distribution
– The rich soil, waterways and mild climate of western Russia is home to 85
percent of all Russians.
• This area is also home to Russia’s major industrial cities
– East of the Ural Mountians, the population becomes much more dispersed.
– Siberia accounts for two- thirds of the regions land area, but only 15 percent of
the population.
• Due the regions frozen tundra, mountains and forests
– Many ethnic Russians migrated to non- Russian republics of the Soviet Union
during the early years of the Soviet era.
• However, since the fall of the Soviet Union this trend has reversed and many
are returning.
• Many are moving to southwestern Russia.
Culture
• Language and Religion
– Russian is the country’s official language, despite the more than 100 languages
spoken there.
• Many non- Russians are bilingual, speaking there own ethnic language as
well.
– During the Soviet era, the government discouraged against religious practices,
instead actively promoted atheism.
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• Since the late 1980s the government has relaxed on its restrictions.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the region experience an influx of
missionaries from Western Christians denominations
• Led by lawmakers to place restrictions that gave only Russian Orthodoxy,
Islam, Judaism Buddhism full liberty in Russia.
Christianity
• Before the Communist Revolution in 1917, Eastern Orthodox Church had
been central to Russian culture.
• The Orthodox religion was adopted by Prince Vladimir, leader of Kievan
Rus, in 988.
• When the Byzantine Empire fell in 1453, Russia asserted itself as the leader
of the Orthodox world.
• Today, most Russians religious affiliation is to the Orthodox Church.
– Roman Catholics and Protestants have also reemerged in the region
Islam
• Islam has the second- largest following in Russia, with the majority living in
the Caucasus region.
• Most follow the Sunni branch of Islam
Judaism
• Jews have long been persecuted in Russia
• During czarist times, Jews could not settle in certain areas, could not own
land and were even targets of massacres.
• Many Jews migrated to Israel or the U.S. because of the tragic events that took a toll
in the 20th century.
– Buddhism
• There are a large number of Buddhists that live in the areas near the Caspian Sea.
• Also a small number who live in the large cities.
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Education and Health Care
– Education in the Soviet Union was free, but it was also mandatory.
– The Soviet government put an emphasis on math, science and engineering.
• Produced technology- focused officials, who combined with prominent leaders to
form the intellectual elite.
– Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia’s curriculum was drastically altered.
• Now includes subjects like history, language and literature
• However, low budgets lead many teachers to abandon education.
• Because of the unstable economy students are more focused on making money, and
not education.
– As Russia’s health care has worsened, the region has experienced a decline in
demographics.
• This has led the life expectancy in Russia has dipped to 66 years.
• As infant mortality rates and death rates sore, Russia has experienced a period of
negative population growth.
– Various other factors have affected the well- being of Russia’s people.
• Russia has a aging population, rising infertility and an increasing rate of infectious
disease.
• The Arts
– Art was often inspired by religion
• Churches had onion- shaped domes that symbolized heaven
– The focus changed to known religious themes in the early 1700s
• This happened when Peter the Great introduced European culture.
• From the early 1800s into the 1900s, Russia experienced a artistic golden
age.
– Viktor Vasnetsov and Pyotr (Peter) Tchaikovsky are just a few of well known
Russian artists.
• Other writers have made Russian literature famous.
– During the Soviet reign, the government limited artistic expressions, and forced
artists to glorify government achievements in their work.
• Known as social realism, and those who did not follow were punished.
– Following the fall of the Soviet Union, activity in the arts renewed as
government control loosened.
• Family Life and Leisure
– Living conditions are poor in Russia, and often have affect family life.
• Most families live in large apartments blocks that are usually very small
• Many newly married couples are forced to live with their parents
– Concerts, ballet and theater provide popular entertainment
– Sports are popular with all age groups
• Tennis, track and field, and ice hockey experience great success.
– Traditional religious holidays have reemerged since the fall of the Soviet Union.
2014 Winter Olympics
History and Government
Early History
• Kievan Rus
– During the 800s, Scandinavian warriors settled near the Dnieper and Volga Rivers
• They eventually assimilated with the local Slavs, adapting there language and
customs.
• These Slavic communities were eventually organized into a loose union of citystates.
• This united area became known as Kievan Rus, and was ruled by princes.
• The leading city- states was Kiev
• However, fighting amongst these city- states weakened the Kievan Rus.
– The Mongols invaded Kiev and other Slav territory in the early 1200s
• They controlled the area, but still allowed the Slavs to self- rule.
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The Rise of Russia
– Those Slavs who did not want to remain under Mongol control, fled and settled
the Moskva River
• One of these settlements eventually grew into the city of Moscow, the center
of the Muscovy territory.
• This area was linked to major trade route, and was surrounded by good land.
• This region was able to keep peace with the Mongols, but a peace that did
not last.
– When Ivan III (later the Great”) came to Muscovy’s thrown, he united several
Slavic territories under his control.
• His realm is what eventually became Russia.
• He built a huge fortress in Moscow, called the Kremlin, and filled the city
with churches and palaces.
– Ivan’s grandson, Ivan IV, became Russia’s first crowned czar in 1547.
• He earned the title Ivan the Terrible by crushing opposition and expanded
the realm into non- Slavic territory.
• Following the death of Ivan, Russia faced decline and invasion.
• In 1613, the Romanov dynasty came to power and tightened its grip on the
people.
• By 1650, many peasants were lowered to the position of serfs.
• Romanov Czars and the Empire
– As Russia was left struggling, Europe continued to advance.
– Peter I was crowned czar with the hope of modernizing Russia.
• Under Peter, Russia grew in territory, developed a strong military and
developed trade with western Europe.
• He acquired land along the Baltic Sea as a way to gain more seaports
• Peter established St. Petersburg as the new capital of Russia, giving Russia
access to the west.
– Catherine the Great continued to expand the empire during the 1700s.
• Gained several warm water ports on the Black Sea.
– During the Romanov expansion, the non- Russians were brought under the
Russian rule.
– During this time a cultural gap developed between the nobility and the serfs.
– In 1891, Russia began expanding into Siberia while under Czar Alexander III.
• Did this with the construction of the Trans- Siberian Railroad.
• Consists of nearly 6,000 miles, and connects Moscow to Vladivostok.
• Once opened up, the railroad opened up Russia’s interior.
Revolution and Change
• The Russian Revolution
– When Czar Alexander II came to the throne he introduced limited reforms that
led to many former serfs to move to the cities.
– When the government introduced the policy of Russification, people of nonRussian descent experience intense prejudice
• Those who refused were persecuted harshly
– As a result many Russian workers and thinkers turned to socialism.
• Karl Marx was one of the biggest proponents of this movement.
• Advocated for public ownership and an equal sharing of wealth.
– As discontent continued to grow, strikes and demonstrations broke out in the
early 1900s.
• WWI forced many soldiers and workers to the street demanding bread and
freedom.
• This forced Czar Nicholas II to abdicate his throne , bringing czarist rule to
an end.
• This ended Europe’s last absolute rulers, and led to the rise of communism.
• The Soviet Era
– The Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin easily rose to power.
• This group believed in communism based off of Marx’s ideas
• It called for a violent overthrow of government, and the creation of a society
led by workers.
– The Bolsheviks withdrew Russia from WWI, surrendering territory to Germany.
– They used their power to take over industry, control food distribution, and
establish an eight hour work day.
– In 1922 the Bolsheviks won a civil war that broke out between the Bolshevik
Red Army and the anti- Bolshevik White Army.
• After the victory, they established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
or the Soviet Union.
• Eventually regained Ukraine, Belarus and parts of the Caucasus region and
Central Asia
– Joseph Stalin became the leader of the Communist Party following Lenin’s
Death in 1924.
• Stalin turned the USSR into an industrial giant by taking control of farms
and factories.
• He killed million, and millions more died from hunger, physical hardships or
brutal conditions.
• A Super Power
– Following WWII, The USSR achieved superpower status.
• By 1949, most of Eastern Europe had become satellite countries of the
Soviet Union.
– For the next four decades the Soviet Union and the U.S. struggled for world
influence and power.
• Referred to as the Cold War, and pitted communism vs. capitalism.
• The two world powers used propaganda, the threat of force and aid to
developing countries as weapons against each other.
Movement for Change
• The Fall of the Soviet Union
– Various problems eventual led to the breakup of Soviet Union.
• In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power in the Soviet Union, and instituted a
policy of economic restructuring.
• Also implemented a policy of greater political openness.
– In 1989 many of the Soviet Unions satellite countries overthrew their Communist
rulers, and by 1991 all the republics had declared their independence.
• 12 of these new countries became members of the Commonwealth of
Independent States.
• Only the three Baltic countries did not join.
• Boris Yeltsin was elected the first president of the new Russian republic.
• A New Russia
– This new Russia moved towards a market economy by closing factories and
restructuring agriculture.
• This resulted in massive unemployment.
– However, by 2000 the economy was on the mend, and
inflation was falling.
– When Vladimir Putin became president in 1999, he
inherited a series of conflicts.
• Separatist movements and ethnic conflicts threatened Russian
stability.
• Putin helped stabilize the economy by instituting reforms in
labor, banking and private property.
• He also got Russia involved with NATO through the NATORussia Council.
The Economy
Changing Economies
• The Soviet Command Economy
– Under Communist leaders, the government made all key economic decisions.
• They owned everything and determined how much of each item to produce.
• Also controlled the pricing of goods and where they could be sold.
– Under this system unemployment was nearly nonexistent, however, wages were
minimal.
• Many people could not afford goods needed for everyday use.
• Some of these could only be found on the black market.
• The Market Economy
– When Gorbachev came to power, he reduced some government controls,
allowed small businesses and encouraged foreign investment.
• Yeltsin expanded this process.
– After the fall of the Soviet Union, Yeltsin encouraged a change to privatization.
• This favored people who could afford to purchase large companies .
• However, many invested their profits outside the country.
– Through the 1990s, the economy experienced ups and downs.
• More goods were available, but many were too expensive to buy.
• The GDP fell and the Russian currency lost 71 percent of its value.
– When Putin came to office the country lacked a strong banking system, and the
military needed improvements.
• Reforms to the budget, increase in the number of small businesses and a
growing middle class created progress.
Economic Activities
• Agriculture
– During the time of the Soviet Union, farms were organized into Kolkhozes and
Sovkhozes.
• The government controlled the prices and production in both systems.
• The system suffered because workers were not motivated by it.
– President Yeltsin began restructuring the farm system in order to help them
function at a better rate.
• Many famers refused to adapt to the new system because they like the
stability of the Soviet system.
• Many farmers could not afford to buy their own land.
– These concerns led progress to stall and production to fall.
– In 2002 a new land code was issued making it easier to buy or sell land.
• Industry
– Russia’s industry has began to rebound after it collapsed with the fall of the
Soviet Union.
– Under Soviet control, aerospace and military industry were primary focus of the
economy.
• In recent years these sectors have become privately owned.
– The Russian government has encouraged foreign investment by selling
ownership to companies and opening its markets.
– Today, petroleum is Russia’s most important industry, and it ranks amongst the
world’s leading producers.
– Oil also provides Russia’s other industries with a vital source of energy.
• Other major minerals include: manganese and nickel
– Russia produces one- fifth of the world’s wood because if the regions huge
forests
Transportation and Communications
• Transporting Goods
– The Vastness of the Russian territory, transportation systems must move
products over great distances
– Many of the region’s roads are in very poor condition.
• Melting snow often makes many roads impassable.
– For most of its transportation needs, Russia depends on railroads and waterways.
• The Trans- Siberian Railroad is the world’s longest continuous rail line, and
it links major cities and waterways.
– Pipelines are an effect way to transport petroleum, and provide many Russian
cities with fuel.
• People in the republics of Chechnya and Dagestan are fighting for self-rule,
jeopardizing these areas oil reserves and pipelines.
• Transporting People
– Public transportation is vital in Russia because most of the population lives in
– Since the 1990s private car ownerships has doubled, but public transportation is
still important.
• Many of these systems are in desperate need of repairs and improvements.
– Airplanes were used for passenger travel during the Soviet era, but high prices
have caused many Russian airports to close.
• Mass Communication
– All mass communication systems were owned and controlled by the Soviet
government.
• All print and broadcasting materials were reviewed
• However, since the fall of the Soviet Union there has been a rise in new
voices and views
– Telecommunications has experienced a boom in recent years.
• Cell phone service has doubled, with now nearly 1/4th of the population
owning one.
– Russia is above the world average in internet use.
Trade and Interdependence
• Trade
– Energy and fuels account for over 50 percent of the country’s exports
• Energy is expected to remain the most important export for the Russian
economy.
– Russia has become a member of the Asia- Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade
Organization as a way to strengthen industry
• International Relations
– Russia occupies the former Soviet Unions seat in the
United Nations Security Council.
• Economic problems have drained the military despite Russia’s
success internationally.
– International communities provide loans to Russia and
make industry plausible.
• With this aid , Russia can create secure and workable systems.
People and Their Environment
• Human Impact
– Nuclear Wastes
• The Soviet Union set off more than 600 nuclear explosions.
• Throughout the Cold War they developed and stockpiled weapons
– These weapons are still a concern for the international world.
• Another concern is Russia’s dumping of nuclear waste.
– The Soviets have placed some waste in storage facilities, while dumping
the rest into the surrounding sea’s.
– Chernobyl Past and Present
• Tons of radioactive particles were leaked into the local environment after a
fire broke out in the town of Chernobyl in 1986.
– Thousands of square miles of farmland and forests were exposed .
• Millions of people were exposed to deadly levels of radiation following the
fire.
– This resulted in the death of thousands of people, and caused and drastic
increase in cancer and other health conditions.
– Nearly 350,000 people were displaced from their homes.
• This accident led Soviet leaders to improve nuclear safety standards and shut
down dangerous plants.
• The final reactor at Chernobyl was shut down in 2000, and work began to
replace work began to replace the old structure.
– Water Quality
• Many of Russia’s lakes and rivers have been polluted by industrialization.
– Farm runoff, sewage and nuclear waste contribute to this problem.
• One- fifth of the world’s freshwater supply is found in Russia’s Lake Baikal
– Is the world’s oldest and deepest lake, and is home to more than 1,500
native species
– Has been polluted by factories that lie on it’s banks, but recent actions
have been take to reverse this trend.
– Soil and Air Quality
• Russia’s soil has been poisoned by years of toxic leaks, breaks in oil
pipelines and overuse of fertilizers and pesticides.
• All parts of Russia have been affected by poor air quality
– In 1990, only 15 percent of Russia’s urban population lived with
acceptable air quality.
• Acid rain is also a major concern for the area.
– Has reduced Russia’s forests drastically.
• Managing Resources
– Russia is using the World Bank’s Sustainable Forestry Pilot Project to manage
its forest.
• They are doing things such as planting new trees and increasing private trees.
– People have began to work together to help control mining operations.
• Demand that companies meet strict environmental standards.
• The local fishing industry have supported this movement as a way to protect
the area’s salmon spawning.
• However, regions have continued to be developed because of economic
pressures.
Challenges for the Future
– Russia’s super trawlers are a large reason the world’s fish populations are
shrinking drastically.
• More than 400 tons of fish can be caught and processed in one day.
• These ships only want certain types of fish, and everything else is discarded.
• Smaller boats can not compete with these larger ships, threatening traditional
fishing cultures.
• Russia must find a way to balance between destroying fish stocks and the
growing global demand for fish
– Russia’s pipelines threaten the environment and wildlife of the areas that they
run through
• Environmentalist fear that irreversible damages could be caused by an oil
spill.
– Global warming is happening at a dramatic pace in western Siberia
• As the world’s largest peat bog thaws, billions of metric tons of methane is
being released into the earth’s atmosphere.
• Shallow lakes now stand where permafrost once existed.