Prisoners of Geography Flashcards
What was the USSRs response to the creation of NATO in 1949?
They created the Warsaw pact
- A treaty for military defence and mutual aid
- Made up of communist states
When/where does Russia as a concept originate?
What made them flee to Moscow and in what century?
-They were a lose confederate of tribes known as the Kievan Rus, based in Kiev
- The expansion of the Mongol empire made them move to Moscow in the 13th century
Who was the first Russian Tsar?
What was his policy for defence and why was this his policy?
-Ivan the terrible in 16 century
- Due to the geographic conditions of Moscow(Flatland, few rivers ect)
-His policy was that the best defence was attack and thus expansion outwards.
Who founded the Russian Empire in 1721?
Where did the look and successfully expand into? What was this driven by?
Peter the great
They expanded West into Ukrain, and the Baltic states(Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia)
It was driven by trade and nationalism
Despite Russia’s massive land mass, what problem does it have?
-A relatively small population of 144 million
- A short agricultural growing season which struggles to feed its population
What are the Urals?
Mountain range that seperates East and West Russia
What are the 3 neutral ex USSR countries? Why are they neutral?
- Uzbekistan 2. Azerbaijan 3. Turkmeistan
They produce their own energy and are not beholden to either for security or trade
What are the 5 pro Russian USSR countries? Why are they pro Russian?
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia
-Economies are tied to Russia
- Large Russian minority populations
- All five are in a military alliance
What are the 10 pro West ex USSR countries?
Why are they pro west?
- Poland 2. Latvia 3.Lithuania 4. Estonia 5. Czech Republic 6.Bulgaria 7.Hungry 8. Slovakia 9. Albania 10. Romania 11. Georgia 12. Ukraine 13. Moldova
- Suffered most under the soviet regime
Why is Ukraine important to Russia geographically?
-It is a buffer zone that would guard the North European Plain into Russia
- Access to Sevastopol
How many ethnic Russians live in ex USSR countries?
7 Million
What part of Moldova does Russia control? And why?
Transnistria(borders Ukraine)
Stalin settled Russians there. In modern day 50% of the population are ethnic Russians
How much of Europe relies on Russian gas?
What does being geographically closer to Moscow mean? And what does this lead to?
25%
The closer to Moscow the more reliant on their gas you are, leading to less options on foreign policy
