Description
Please address the following questions while preparing the essay and oral presentation:why have you decided to take this course?when and why have you become interested in the Region?what is the area of your academic interests: – geography – economics – politics – social issues – culture – environmental issues – languages – othershow would you use knowledge on the Region in the future (doing business, traveling, etc.)Here is the class’s syllabus and I am a freshman girl from Beijing, where is the capital of China.
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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
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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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