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)