RUSSIAN ETHNICITY

Russia IIIRussia III

Geography: Meet the Profs Map test: Europe and Russian Map test: Europe and Russian

Federation only: 20 questions Federation only: 20 questions ReviewReview End of Russian RealmEnd of Russian Realm

– Chechnya and ConflictChechnya and Conflict– Mackinder’s Heartland TheoryMackinder’s Heartland Theory– Transcaucasian RepublicsTranscaucasian Republics

NorthNorthCaucasusCaucasus

Distance decay and Distance decay and periphery of Russian periphery of Russian empireempire

Putin’s centralismPutin’s centralism 3 Muslim republics: 3 Muslim republics:

Islamist movementIslamist movement Strategic resources:Strategic resources:

– Oil wellsOil wells– PipelinesPipelines

Russification, Stalin’s Russification, Stalin’s deportations, guerilla deportations, guerilla warfarewarfare

Roots of the Chechen Conflict IRoots of the Chechen Conflict I

Russian conquest of Chechnya, Ingushetiya and Dagestan c. 1860

Chechens deported to Kazakhstan and Siberia by Stalin

Chechen-Ingush ASR restored by Krushchev

Agriculture in north Oil installations and urban core, Grozny in

centre– Dagestan is vital oil source within Russian Federation

Caucasus in south, difficult to control– crestline forms boundary with Georgia

Roots of the Chechen Conflict IIRoots of the Chechen Conflict II

In 1992, Chechens attempt to put their leader in place over Ingush

Partitioned by Moscow with Chechen capital in Grozny

Chechens refuse to sign Russian Federation Treaty in 1992

Russia invades in 1994, Grozny destroyed Local guerrillas vs. Russian conscripts Terrorism

– 335 children killed in Beslan, North Ossetia (Christian) in 2004

– Moscow theatre hostage-taking kills 115 in 2002

CHECHNYA: Regional IssueCHECHNYA: Regional Issue IN SUPPORT OF RUSSIAN CONTROLIN SUPPORT OF RUSSIAN CONTROL

– Infighting after independence was granted in Infighting after independence was granted in 19911991

– Chechens installed a separatist leaderChechens installed a separatist leader– Attacks on RussiansAttacks on Russians– Chechen terrorismChechen terrorism

WHY CHECHNYA DESERVES WHY CHECHNYA DESERVES INDEPENDENCEINDEPENDENCE– Muslim region, fought against the Russian Muslim region, fought against the Russian

imperialists in nineteenth centuryimperialists in nineteenth century– Soviets rearranged the borders to include non-Soviets rearranged the borders to include non-

Chechen homeland, Russifying the internal Chechen homeland, Russifying the internal republicrepublic

– Massive persecution during Stalin’s regimeMassive persecution during Stalin’s regime– 1991 Declaration of Independence1991 Declaration of Independence

Halford Mackinder Halford Mackinder 1861-19471861-1947

Educated at Oxford, Mt Kenya 1899Educated at Oxford, Mt Kenya 1899 Established geography as academic Established geography as academic

subjectsubject Director of the London School of Director of the London School of

EconomicsEconomics View of Eurasia as the geographical pivot View of Eurasia as the geographical pivot

and "heartland" of history.and "heartland" of history. Theory gets little attention in Britain or Theory gets little attention in Britain or

USAUSA Heartland as natural seat of power Heartland as natural seat of power

adopted in Germany and was used to adopted in Germany and was used to support Nazi aggressionsupport Nazi aggression

How geographic facts influence policies

PivotArea

Consisted of the Moscow region,the Volga valley, the Urals, Central Asia,

and western and central Siberia.

MACKINDER’S WORLD - 1904

Heartland

Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland;who rules the Heartland commands the World Island;who rules the World Island commands the World.

HEARTLAND THEORY

Heartland

Land

Rim

SPYKMAN’S RIMLAND

Who controls the Rimland rules Eurasia;who rules Eurasia controls the destinies of the world.

TRANSCAUCASIA

Azerbaijan

Armenia

Georgia

Transacaucasian RepublicsTransacaucasian Republics

Georgia – Georgia – TbilisiTbilisi – 4.4 million – 4.4 million– Eastern OrthodoxEastern Orthodox– Caucasian language familyCaucasian language family– Black Sea coastBlack Sea coast

Armenia – Armenia – YerevanYerevan – 3.8 million – 3.8 million– Armenian Orthodox Church, Armenian Orthodox Church,

Mount AraratMount Ararat

– World War I genocide in Ottoman EmpireWorld War I genocide in Ottoman Empire ‘‘Young Turks’ 1915-1923Young Turks’ 1915-1923

– Nagorno-Karabakh – an Armenian exclave in Nagorno-Karabakh – an Armenian exclave in AzerbaijanAzerbaijan

Ethnic Ethnic Cleansing of Cleansing of Armenians in Armenians in

TurkeyTurkey

1915-19231915-1923

AzerbaijanAzerbaijan

BakiBaki (Baku) - 8.3 million (Baku) - 8.3 million Azeris also in northern IranAzeris also in northern Iran Shi’ite Muslim, Turkic language familyShi’ite Muslim, Turkic language family Conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-

KarabakhKarabakh Naxcivan: Azeri exclave between Armenia Naxcivan: Azeri exclave between Armenia

and Iranand Iran Massive oil in Caspian basinMassive oil in Caspian basin Pipeline to Novorossiysk, Black SeaPipeline to Novorossiysk, Black Sea

RUSSIA’S EXTERNAL CHALLENGES Natural resource distributionNatural resource distribution

– Many natural resources now in former soviet Many natural resources now in former soviet republicsrepublics

IrredentismIrredentism– Concern for Russians outside its bordersConcern for Russians outside its borders

National prideNational pride– Determined to remain the champion of Slavic Determined to remain the champion of Slavic

interests – Pan-Slavism??interests – Pan-Slavism??– Desire to remain a world powerDesire to remain a world power

Centrifugal forcesCentrifugal forces– Caucasian peripheryCaucasian periphery