Suchergebnisse

THE VOLGA RIVER, THE LONGEST IN EUROPE, IS VERY DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE, WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR AFFECTION FOR IT FOR CENTURIES IN NATIONAL SONGS AND FOLKLORE. THE NINE HUNDRED-MILE CRUISE ALONG THE VOLGA-DON RIVERS FROM KAZAN TO ROSTOV-ON-DON BRINGS THE TRAVELLER THROUGH THE HEART OF THESE VOLGA LANDS AND IS A PLEASANT AND HISTORICALLY EVOCATIVE EXPERIENCE. IT ALSO PROVIDES A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF A MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AREA OF THE SOVIET UNION TODAY. THE GENERALLY VAGUE NOTIONS PREVAILING IN WESTERN EUROPE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE TO RUSSIA OF THE VOLGA COULD NOT FAIL TO BE SHARPENED BY THE CONTACT, DIRECT EVEN IF SLIGHT, AFFORDED BY THIS CRUISE ALONG THE GREAT NATURAL BARRIER TO THE EAST OF WESTERN RUSSIA, CONTAINING THE HISTORIC TOWNS OF KAZAN, SIMBIRSK (NOW ULYANOVSK), SAMARA (KUYBYSHEV), SARATOV, TSARITSIN (STALINGRAD-VOLGOGRAD), ALL STRATEGICALLY PLACED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE VOLGA. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AS OUTPOSTS OF RUSSIAN POWER FOLLOWING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TATAR-MONGOLIAN KHANATES IN KAZAN AND ASTRAKHAN BY THE RUSSIANS IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. THUS THE MENACE TO MOSCOW FROM THE TATAR HORDES IN THE EAST WAS ELIMINATED AND THE FURTHER THRUST OF RUSSIAN DOMINION EASTWARDS TOWARDS THE KAZAKH STEPPES AND THE CENTRAL ASIAN KANATES WAS FACILITATED, LEADING EVENTUALLY TO THE FORMATION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY OF THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN EMPIRE - WITHIN MUCH THE SAME FRONTIERS AS THE SOVIET UNION TODAY.

"This book investigates the policy of Russia on the Caspian and in the nearby territories from old times to the beginning of the present millennium, thus, spanning several centuries. The book also discusses the motivations of the rulers of Rus', Moscow State, Russian Empire, the USSR and later on, Russia that pursued active foreign policy targeted to extension of the geopolitical influence and strengthening of the economic presence in the near-Caspian territories and on the Caspian Sea proper. The main stages of formation of the Russian foreign policy are studied. The causes underlying the rivalry of Russia with Persia and Turkey, Central Asian Khanates and European states for the leading positions on the Caspian are analyzed. The authors describe the mechanisms used by Russia in its foreign policy with regard to the established political and economic conditions. Much attention is focused on the analysis of Russia's foreign policy in the Caspian region after disintegration of the USSR when the situation on the Caspian had changed drastically. Formerly there were two Caspian statesaUSSR and Iran, but now three new independent states appeared, i.e. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, which immediately became the focus of interest of non-regional states and leading oil and gas companies. This book describes how the policy of Russia has been changing in the face of a new geopolitical situation in the Caspian region. The approaches of Russia to addressing the regional problems, first of all, the international legal status of the Caspian Sea, hydrocarbon production and transportation, militarization and ecology, etc. are analyzed. All these factors urged Russia to develop new approaches towards the Caspian region. The book investigates the effect of the foreign policy of new Caspian states, the USA, EU and China on the Caspian policy of Russia. The complicated geopolitical situation on the Caspian and unceasing attention to its hydrocarbon resources force Russia to keep a close watch on the Caspian region that remains the main vector of the Russian foreign policy."--Preface

Examines divisions among foreign policy organizations, lack of military capability, and relations with Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Israel.

Der Verfasser analysiert die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung Rußlands aus regionaler Perspektive. Die unterschiedliche Wirtschaftsentwicklung in elf Regionen der Russischen Föderation wird anhand der Indikatoren Arbeitslosigkeit, Einkommen, Industrieproduktion, Elektrizitätsproduktion und Exportentwicklung dargestellt. Die hierbei zutage tretenden Unterschiede werden zum einen zu der in den einzelnen Regionen verfolgten Wirtschaftspolitik, zum anderen zu den unterschiedlichen wirtschaftsstrukturellen Gegebenheiten in den Regionen in Beziehung gesetzt. Der Verfasser zeigt, daß die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung der russischen Regionen vor allem von den wirtschaftsstrukturellen Voraussetzungen bestimmt und von der jeweils verfolgten Wirtschaftspolitik kaum beeinflußt wird. Er führt dieses Ergebnis darauf zurück, daß eine reformorientierte Wirtschaftspolitik erst mittelfristig zu messbaren Ergebnissen führt. (BIOst-Wpt)

RUSSIAN REGIONS DIFFER WIDELY IN ECONOMIC POLICY, STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THESE DIFFERENCES AND RELATES THEM TO EACH OTHER. IT ARGUES THAT THE PICTURE OF A UNIFIED ECONOMY IN DECLINE CAN THEN BE REPLACED BY THE PICTURE OF A SIGNIFICANTLY DISINTEGRATED ECONOMY OF WHICH SOME PARTS DO WELL AND OTHER DO POORLY. IT FINDS THAT WHEREAS STRUCTURE COULD ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF THE VARIATION IN PERFORMANCE, POLICY COULD NOT.