ideas.unimelb.edu.au Europe: Farewell to an Idea Europe: Farewell to an Idea Speaker: Mr Les Rowe Speaker: Mr Les Rowe Russian Federation Area Russia occupies 1/7 of the world s landmass - 17 million square kilometres (the Soviet Union was 24 million sq kms) with the longest land borders in the world (and the responsibility to defend them). to defend them). Area Russia occupies 1/7 of the world s landmass - 17 million square kilometres (the Soviet Union was 24 million sq kms) with the longest land borders in the world (and the responsibility to defend them). to defend them). Russian Federation It covers ten time zones; it takes nine hours to fly Moscow to Vladivostok The tsarist empire, the nucleus of the Soviet Union, provided a secure land cordon around most of the Russian (Slavic) heartland; the dissolution of the Soviet Union removed of the Soviet Union removed that buffer that buffer. It covers ten time zones; it takes nine hours to fly Moscow to Vladivostok The tsarist empire, the nucleus of the Soviet Union, provided a secure land cordon around most of the Russian (Slavic) heartland; the dissolution of the Soviet Union removed of the Soviet Union removed that buffer that buffer. Russian Federation The RF has land borders with North Korea, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Poland and Lithuania; and maritime borders with Japan and the US Russian Federation Five EU member states share land borders with the RF; of its neighbours, Georgia and Ukraine are EU aspirants. Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Lithuania (former Warsaw Pact and recent NATO members) have land borders with the RF Five EU member states share land borders with the RF; of its neighbours, Georgia and Ukraine are EU aspirants. Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Lithuania (former Warsaw Pact and recent NATO members) have land borders with the RF Russian Federation Its population is falling from 149 million in 1991 to 142 million (Jan 2009 estimate) some projections have the population falling to between million by a decline in health standards, alcoholism and AIDS are all contributory factors Russian Federation 80% of the population lives west of the Urals only 20% in RFE and Siberia The Russian Federation is divided into 73 administrative regions 80% of the population lives west of the Urals only 20% in RFE and Siberia The Russian Federation is divided into 73 administrative regions Russian Federation A little over 7% of land in Russia is arable; the RF has extensive forests and is a major producer of oil and gas, coal and a wide range of minerals. It is a multicultural and multiethnic nation A little over 7% of land in Russia is arable; the RF has extensive forests and is a major producer of oil and gas, coal and a wide range of minerals. It is a multicultural and multiethnic nation Russian Federation