Russian Revolution, the USSR, and the Cold War
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Transcript Russian Revolution, the USSR, and the Cold War
Post-Cold War Europe
(after 1991)
Timeline
WWII
1939
1945
USSR dissolves
Cold War
1989 1991
Revolutions of 1989
Common Patterns: Economics
1. neoliberalism (tough-minded capitalism)
a. US model
b. global trend
2. globalization
3. reaction against neoliberalism
Common Patterns: Politics
1. democracy
2. resurgent nationalism (ex. Yugoslavia)
3. European unity – desire to join EU
Yugoslav civil wars, 1990s
Slobodan Milosevic, Serbian president (1989-2000)
He sought to unite all Balkan Serbs in a “greater Serbia”: “We
believe that Serbs have the legitimate right to live in one
country. If we must fight then by God, we will fight.”
Croatian war (1991)
Croatia declared independence in 1991.
Croatia’s Serb minority looked to Milosevic
for support.
Serbian forces took about 30% of Croatia’s
territory.
UN imposed economic sanctions on Serbia.
Bosnian war (1992-1995)
Bosnia declared independence in 1992.
Serbs, led by Milosevic, refused to live
under rule of Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims).
Civil war ensued.
Srebenica massacre in 1995 finally
prompted a NATO response.
Dayton Accords (1995) concluded the war
& split land between the sides. NATO and
UN forces remained to keep the peace.
Kosovo war (1999)
Kosovo’s Albanian Muslim majority did not
want to be under Serbian rule.
1998: formation of the Kosovo Liberation
Army (KLA) to fight for independence.
Fighting ensued between Serbians and
Kosovars.
NATO began bombing in 1999 and forced
Milosevic to withdraw.
Yugoslavia (1918-1991/92)
Slovenia (1991 - Yugoslavia)
Croatia (1991 - Yugoslavia)
Macedonia (1991 - Yugoslavia)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992 Yugoslavia)
Serbia (2006 - Serbia and Montenegro)
Montenegro (2006 - Serbia and
Montenegro)
Kosovo (2008 - Serbia)
Russia Today
2000-2008: President
2008-2012: PM
2012-?: President
Vladimir Putin
Russian Constitution,
Chapter 4, Article 81.3:
“No one person shall hold the
office of President of the
Russian Federation for more
than two terms in succession.”
In 2008, Medvedev signed into
law a constitutional
amendment that extended the
presidential term from 4 to 6
Russia 2008-2012
PM Vladimir Putin
Pres. Dmitry Medvedev
In The Economist, 8 May 2008
Putin’s Popularity?
Very popular in the 2000s for helping to restore
economic prosperity and security after the
tumultuous 1990s.
In 2011-2012 growing discontent erupted into
street protests, led by the middle class, which was
only 15% of the pop. in 2000 and was 25% in
2012. The middle class tends to be educated and
wants a democratic gov’t (like the middle class of
the 19th c. … remember Metternich’s concerns?).
His annexation of the Crimea in 2014 arrested the
trend – approval ratings are up to 90% in 2015
(“How Vladimir Putin tries to stay strong,” The Economist 18 April
2015).
Pussy Riot
feminist rock group, founded in 2011
3 members arrested and convicted in 2012 of
“hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”
following a performance at a Moscow cathedral
that protested the Orthodox Church’s support for
Putin
Chechnya
tiny republic of 1m Muslims that declared ind.
from Russia in 1991 but Russia won’t let it go
violent separatist movement
Georgia & South Ossetia
Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 to support
Russian separatists in South Ossetia
Ukraine
Ukrainian Pres. Viktor Yanukovych’s decision in
Nov. 2013 to pull out of an association deal with
the EU sparked huge street protests that
eventually led to his downfall.
In March 2014, Russia reacted by annexing the
Ukrainian region of Crimea and unrest is growing
in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian sentiment is
strong. Meanwhile, relations between the West and
Moscow have soured dramatically.
- Summary from BBC News, April 2014
Feb. 20, 2014 –
bloodiest day of
protest in the Maidan
(Independence
Square) in Kiev.
“Putin doing manly things”
http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/vladimir-putin-doing-manlythings/
21ST C. CHALLENGES
Population Decline
2000: 1.2-1.8 children/woman
(vs. 2.1 for pop. maintenance)
Cause: postpone childbearing for edu. &
career
Consequences: social security costs,
economic productivity
Immigration into W. Europe
From Africa, Asia, E. Europe
For asylum, $$$
Illegal immigrants
– people smuggling gangs
– young E. European women
– controversy: majority opposed
Promotion of human rights
Humanitarian intervention in conflicts (ex.
Yugoslav civil war)
Support UN-sponsored treaties on human
rights (ex. outlaw land mines)
ICJ in The Hague
Liberal laws, ex. Netherlands
Help poor nations (ex. facilitate spread of
AIDS drugs in Africa)