G427 (12223) Spring 2016 RUSSIA AND ITS NEIGHBORS (jointly with CEUS R399 (30679)/R599 (30678) Topics in Central Eurasia) (jointly with CEUS-R399 (30679)/R599 (30678) Topics in Central Eurasia) (jointly with CEUS-R399 Dr. Roman Zlotin (30679)/R599 TR 2:30-3:45pm (30678) Topics Student Building 138 Office: Student Building 203 Office hours: by appointment in Central Phone: 855-6303; 855-7956 Eurasia) E-mail: rzlotin@indiana.edu Course objectives The purpose of this course is to provide students, both graduate and undergraduate, with an awareness of the geography of an immense territory that occupies one-sixth of the Earth’s surface and consists of the 15 former USSR’s republics, now independent states. The Region is undergoing profound restructuring after collapse of the Soviet Empire in 1991. From its Soviet past the region has inherited numerous political, social, economic and environmental problems. After September 11, 2001, the Newly Independent States (NIS) due to their proximity to Afghanistan became an area of increased US national interests. Political instability and the richness of mineral resources define the Region’s crucial role in global security and economy. The main issues to be discussed are: (a) global change as the most significant phenomena of contemporary geography; (b) the territory of North Eastern Eurasia from environmental, economic and social standpoints; (c) environmental degradation and public health deterioration in the Region, and (d) features of regional geography: Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia and Central Asia. Required Text The textbook for this class is Mikhail Blinnikov’s A Geography of Russia and Its Neighbors (2011). The students have to rely on the textbook, materials presented in class, and also found the most current geographic data online. The textbook provides the current geographic information of the Region and its separate parts, and is available at T.I.S. on 3rd Street and IUMU Bookstore. 1 Class overview Besides the instructor’s presentations, there will be two more core components: videos of varying lengths, and students’ presentations and discussions. Visual impressions are a most important part in the study of geography. During the videos, student will think about a certain question to be analyzed in the current class. The content and concepts of videos are also the sources for preparation to exams. In the second (general) and the third (regional) parts of the course each student will be required to give an individual 15-minute oral presentation. Students are also encouraged to participate in discussions on a topic relevant to the particular lecture. Students will select a topic from the list provided. Course requirements Two take-home exams (the mid-term and the final), one home-written essay, and two in-class map quizzes will be given. Three weeks before the due date of each examination students will be provided with approximately 20 questions which cover major issues discussed in the course. Each student will choose two of these questions, and will also be given a third question required of everyone in the class. The answers to these three examination questions should be written in a 8-10-page paper (12-point font, double-spaced, with 1’’ margins on all sides). By the end of the first, introductory part of the course, all students will write an essay (3-5 pages) on the topic Why are the former USSR and Contemporary NIS of interest to me? and make a brief presentation in class. Students of the graduate section are expected to write an additional research paper (ten or more double-spaced pages). They will choose a topic and discuss it with the instructor beforehand. Ten days before a map quiz a copy of the map will be given: for the first quiz – with location of physical-geographic features (the rivers, seas, mountain ranges, etc.), and, for the second quiz – with location of major economic and social features (geographic pattern of natural resources, branches of economy and distribution of nationalities). For each quiz the blank maps consisting of about 20 names of features (either physical-geographic or socio-economic objects) will be distributed in class. Grading Procedure Grades will be calculated separately for the undergraduate and graduate sections and assigned as follows: - mid-term examination paper - 10 points - final examination paper - 10 points required question - 4 points required question - 4 points two chosen questions - 3 points each two chosen question - 3 points each - essay Why are the former USSR and Contemporary NIS of interest to me? – 2 points - two map quizzes - 5 points each (10 pts) - in-class presentation – 5 points - in-class attendance – 3 point - paper for graduate students - 5 points 2 Course Content I. INTRODUCTION 1 Jan. 12, T Introduction to the Course 2 Jan. 14, R Russia and Its Neighbors: Geographic Portrait Class materials: Data presented in class and Textbook, Chapter 5, pp.51-59, 62-63 3 Jan. 19, T 4 Jan. 21, R Essentials of the Modern Geography: Focus on Global Change Video: Global Environmental Issues Class materials: Data presented in class and Online sources 5 Jan. 26, T Why did the USSR fall apart? Video: The Light that Failed Class materials: Data presented in class and Textbook, Chapter 6, pp. 75-76 Why are the Former USSR and Contemporary NIS of Interest to Me? Student Presentations. All Students should also bring to the class their Essay (3-5 double-spaced pages) II. GENERAL PART 6 Jan. 28, R Features of Natural Environment in NIS. Part 1. Landforms, Waters, Climate Video: Siberia: the Frozen Forest Class materials: Textbook, Chapter2, pp.9-11, 16-21; Chapter 3, pp. 22-35 7 Feb. 02, T Features of Natural Environment in NIS. Part 2. The Biomes Videos: Tundra; Desert Class materials: Textbook, Chapter 4, pp. 37-50 8 Feb. 04, R Emergence of the Russian Empire: Coalescence of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia Video: The Making of Russia Class materials: Textbook, Chapter 6, pp. 67-75 9 Feb. 09, T Student Presentations on Evolution of the Soviet Empire: from the 1917 October Revolution through 1991 August Revolution to the Putin’s Russia. All presentation are focusing on political, socio-economic and environmental features of certain historical period. Each student will have about 9 min for a presentation. All presentations should be in PowerPoint format and e-mailed to Instructor beforehand. Class materials: Internet sources 3 10 Feb. 11, R Geographic Features of the Soviet Economy Video: Emerging Market in Eastern Europe and Russia Class materials: Textbook, Chapter 17, pp. 261-275; Chapter 18, pp. 277-284 11 Feb. 16, T Twenty Years After the Fall of the USSR (a pictorial view) Video: Rural Russia 12 Feb. 18, R Industrial Development in NIS in the post-Soviet Period Map Quiz 1. Geographic Features of the Environment in NIS Class materials: Data presented in class and Textbook, Chapter 19, pp. 291299; Chapter 21, pp. 317-336 13 Feb. 23, T Contemporary Agriculture in Russia Video: Power of Place. No 7/8 (Vologda) Class materials: Textbook, Chapter 20, pp. 300-315 14 Feb. 25, R People of the Former Soviet Union Video: Power of Place. No 7/8 (Dagestan) Class materials: Textbook, Chapter10, pp. 137-149; Chapter 13, pp. 183187; Chapter 14, pp. 199-214 15 Mar. 01, T Current Social Issues in NIS: Public Health, Health Care and Life Expectancy Map Quiz 2. Geographic Features of Economy and Nationalities in NIS Class materials: Data presented in class and Textbook, Chapter 12, pp. 167182 16 Mar. 03, R Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation Video: Green Jewel of the Caspian Class materials: Textbook, Chapter 5, pp. 59-62 III. 17 Mar. 08, T REGIONAL PART Environmental Legacy of the Communism in East Central Europe Video: Communism: Legacy of Pollution Class materials: Data presented in class and Online sources 18 Mar. 10, R Student Presentations on Geographic Features of the USSR's West of the Urals. All presentations are focusing on current economic, social, political and environmental issues, should be in PowerPoint format and e-mailed to Instructor beforehand. Class materials: Online sources and Textbook, Chapters 22, 23, 29, 30 Students should bring their Mid-term Paper (take-home exam) to the class Spring Recess begins March 14 and ends March 20 4 19 Mar. 22, T The Moscow Region: Political, Cultural and Economic Center Video: Moscow Region Class materials: Data presented in class and Textbook, Chapter 11, pp. 151-166 20 Mar. 24, R Student Presentations on Geographic Features of the Caucasus as Most Troubled Russian Neighbor. All presentations are focusing on current economic, social, political and environmental issues, should be in Power Point format and e-mailed to Instructor beforehand. Class materials: Online sources and Textbook, Chapter 25, pp. 369-381 21 Mar. 29, T Environmental Degradation of the Volga River Basin Video: Volga River Class materials: Textbook, Chapter 24, pp. 359-368 22 Mar. 31, R The Caspian Sea: Tough Knot of Political and Environmental Problems Class materials: Online sources and data presented in the class Student’s Evaluation of the Instructor’s Work 23 Apr. 05, T Student Presentations on Geographic Features of Five Muslim Central Asian States. All presentations are focusing on current economic, social, political and environmental issues, should be in PowerPoint format and e-mailed to Instructor beforehand. Class materials: Online sources and Textbook, Chapter 31, pp. 424-433 24 Apr. 07, R Environmental and Social Catastrophe in the Aral Sea Basin Video: Killing the Aral Sea: Catastrophe by Design Class materials: Data presented in class and Online sources 25 Apr. 12, T Russian Arctic: Most Vulnerable Environment in Eurasia Video: Norilsk: Life in the Arctic Class materials: Data presented in class and Online sources 26 Apr. 14, R Geographic Consequences of the USSR's Breakdown in Siberia Video: Kusbass Class materials: Textbook, Chapter 27, pp. 391-399; Chapter 28, pp. 400-407 27 Apr. 19, T North Western Siberia at the Brink of Environmental Catastrophe Readings: Course Packet. Chapter 14 Video: Norilsk: Life in the Arctic 28 Apr. 21, R Threatened Ecosystems of the Lake Baikal and Its Watershed Video: Glasnost and Ecology: Lake Baikal Class materials: Data presented in class and Online sources 5 29 Apr. 26, T Environmental and Socio-Economic Issues of the Region Video: Chelyabinsk: Most Contaminated Spot on the Planet Students should bring their Final Paper (take-home exam) to the class IV. CONCLUSION 30 Apr. 28, R The Near Future of Russia and Its Near Abroad Class materials: Textbook, Chapter 32, pp. 435-439 6
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