Deck 9: Central Asia and the Southern Near Abroad

Question 1

What are the main oil- and natural gas-producing countries of the region?

A) Georgia and Armenia
B) Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan
C) Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
D) None of the above
E) All of the above

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What are the main uranium-producing countries of the region?

A) Georgia and Tajikistan
B) Armenia and Kazakhstan
C) Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
D) Turkmenistan and Afghanistan
E) None of the above

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What was the essence of the Soviet policy of Russification in Central Asia and the Southern Near Abroad countries?

A) Russian was the language of the state, and all official documentation was maintained in Russian, native languages had been relegated to the position of peasants, second-class languages. Russian officials occupied key leadership positions in all spheres of social, political, and economic life.
B) Russian was the language of the state, however all official documentation was maintained in two languages, in local and in Russian. In the majority of public schools in urban settings, the educational process was conducted in native languages. Russian officials occupied key leadership positions in all spheres of social, political, and economic life, with a native national deputy.
C) Russian was the language of the state; however native languages, native arts and folklore have been funded as a priority. A leader of any entity was supposed be a native, with a Russian national deputy as a sign of recognition of local culture
D) B and C
E) None of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What are the reasons for the tension in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations?

A) history of religious intolerance and territorial disputes
B) struggle for the influence in the oil reach border region
C) the presence of NATO military basis in Armenia
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 5

Nations of Central Asia are practicing:

A) strict orthodox Islam as practiced by most Arabs in the Middle East
B) Folk Islam, in which Islam is mixed with local superstitions
C) Shiite Islam, common in Iran
D) none of the above
E) all of the above

Question 6

The most significant social and economic changes produced by the era of Russian rule prior to the Soviet period were:

A) Industrial capitalism has been accompanied by a pronounced social differentiation between Russians and the native population.
B) the development of the infrastructure was crucial, including the construction of railroads, communication links, smelting plants, and an introduction of the cotton-ginningmachinery.
C) Military-supported bases were created on the borders and Military hospitals and schools were built to provide adequate training and services to the labor force.
D) An agrarian policy brought about a gradual shift in the proportion of nomads to a more and there was an introduction of a Russian system of administration in the territories.
E) All of the above

Question 7

The massive collectivization of the 1929s and 1930s resulted in:

A) The process of a forceful merger of private farms into large agricultural enterprises
B) Massive persecutions, imprisonment in concentration camps for farmers,
C) massive confiscations of private land, livestock, and property of those who declined to join such units voluntarily combined with the ineffective management of the confiscated property.
D) significant decline in agricultural production in the country.
E) All of the above

Question 8

Soviet impact on Central Asia manifested itself in several social and economic changes:

A) Intermarriage between Russians and non-Russian nationals was strictly prohibited
B) women's education was limited to only 4 years of schooling
C) Labor force movement was strictly limited
D) intensive industrialization contributed to the development of the industrial and energy sectors in each of these countries, combined with a high degree of migration of population.
E) All of the above

Question 9

The biggest principal geopolitical challenge to Russia in the Central Asia is:

A) massive migration of the Russian population to Central Asian countries due to a higher living standard
B) Broken diplomatic relations with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
C) WTO restrictions imposed on Russian trade with Central Asian countries
D) the expansion of NATO influence in the region and a drift away from Moscow
E) ongoing war with Kazakhstan

Question 10

Specialists estimate the Aral Sea's surface is now ____ percent of the surface that existed before Soviet Central planners implemented project of water flow:

A) 150
B) 65
C) 25
D) 50
E) 45

Question 11

Caspian Sea region has significant growth potentials in the natural gas arena, compatible to those in Saudi Arabia

Question 12

The Russia - Georgia 7 day war, which started on August 8, 2008 ended in humiliating defeat of Russian troops and territorial loss of South Ossetia.

Question 13

High level of social and cultural organization of Central Asia between 700 B.C. and A.D. 250 gave rise to a rich and prosperous trade through the Silk Road linking China to the West

Question 14

Collectivization in the former Soviet Union in 1930s was the process of a voluntary merger of private farms into large agricultural enterprises.

Question 15

Perestroika - translates from Russian as "reconstruction," a new ideology introduced by the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986. According to this innovative set of views and new regulations, elements of a market economy, including small private business enterprises were encouraged. Freedom of the press was the leading force to a new openness in society.

Question 16

Coalition forces are enjoying an unrestricted overflight rights to aircraft flying for combat, humanitarian purposes, and search and rescue missions from Manas air base near the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

Question 17

The biggest principal geopolitical challenge to Russia in the Central Asia is the expansion of NATO influence in the region and a drift away from Moscow

Question 18

The main justification for Azerbaijan wanting NATO bases has been seen in the existence of close political and military relations between Russia and Armenia

Question 19

Recent effort of the leaders of countries of Central Asia resulted in the fact that Central Asia stopped being the major transit are for drug trafficking moving their products from Afghanistan to markets in Russia and the West.

Question 20

Afghanistan is surrounded on all sides by neighbors that are hostile to each other.

Question 21

What language groups are represented by the regions nations? Why is it important to understand a language mosaic of the Central Asia for the U.S. foreign policy and operations related to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran?

Question 22

What was the importance of the 19th century colonization of the Central Asia and Caucasus for Russia?

Question 23

What was the essence of the Soviet policy of Russification in Central Asia and the Southern Near Abroad countries?

Question 24

What was the impact of the Soviet era on religious practices in Central Asia?

Question 25

What are the reasons for the "authoritarian transformation" of the political regimes in the region?

Question 26

What was the goal of the Soviet policy regarding the role of women in society in Central Asia, and in what way has it been affected since the disintegration of the former USSR?

Question 27

What were the consequences of the Russia-Georgia 7-day war?

Question 28

How have the changes in political environment of Kyrgyzstan contributed to the foreign investment activities in the country?

Question 29

What goals are being pursued by China in Kyrgyzstan? By Russia in Kyrgyzstan?

Question 30

What factors contributed to the environmental disasters of the Central Asian region?

Question 31

As a newly elected assistant to the Deputy Secretary of the International Youth Organization you were given an assignment to prepare a short speech for the opening ceremony of the International Conference in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, "Youth for Peace." The issue that you need to address in a concise and substantive manner is:" Why Central Asia and near Abroad Occupies an Increasingly Important position in World Affairs". Please, be as specific as possible. Demonstrate the depth of knowledge of the issue of the new generations of leaders in United States.

Question 32

You are taking part in a contest to win a full scholarship for a study abroad class in Political Science in Baku, Azerbaijan. One of the requirements of the selection process is to demonstrate your awareness of the most critical issues for the region.You have selected the subject: "What are the political and economic implications of the "gas war" for the stability in Central Asia? For European Union countries?" Please elaborate and give examples.

Question 33

Were there any positive aspects of the impact of the Sovietization process in the Central Asian region? Do you think soviet Union have been engaged in "nation building" in Central Asia? Explain your answer. Please, elaborate.

Question 34

The "ghost of revolution" is rambling throughout the vast fields of Central Asia and the Southern Near Abroad. Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan are just the beginning of the march of democratic forces in the area that Russia once considered to be its political playground. Even though the Russia-controlled environment rarely yields surprises, the contested elections in Armenia in February 2008 held a number of the surprises. If you were to advise a group of exchange students heading for a full year studies in the region, how would you explain these colorfully named revolutions? What kind of objective conditions has local environment generated and what kind of signs should the students be aware to detect the growth and eruption of the protest movements?

Question 35

Why can Afghanistan be called an artificial country? What are its crucial social, economic, and political problems at the present time? If you were a member of the advisory board to the world decision makers what short (5 years) and long term (10-20 years) plan would you suggest for winning the war in Afghanistan and winning Afghanistan? Do you think there are lessons to learn from the Soviet experience in Central Asia? Please elaborate.

Question 36

You just came back from a conference in Washington DC on the issue: "Causes and consequences of increased drug trafficking in Central Asian countries." Please share with your classmates all the aspects of the discussions on the subject and your opinion on what needs to be done to combat the problem.