Russia

I. __Geography__ Russia contains much of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, leaving it the world’s largest country in total area. Parts of the country are made up of tundra, others are forests, and they also have grasslands and semi-deserts. Thirteen seas and parts of three different oceans; the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific, all touch parts of Russia. (Map of Russia) II. __History__ The Slavs were the first settlers of Russia after being chased by the Chinese into northern Asia in the 800’s AD. Due to the Slavs’ influence from the Scandinavian culture, the now Russians adopted the Eastern Orthodox Christian religion. Soon after, around 1000AD, disputes broke out when some Slavs began to practice Roman Catholicism. At this same time, Vikings also settled this area and termed the land, Russ. Then, in the 13th century, the Tartars took over Europe, including Russia. After massacring and burning many of the towns, the Tartars allowed the Russians to manage their own cities as long as they paid them and provided soldier. (Russian Tartars) In the late 15th century, the Tartars lost their hold on the Russians when Ivan the third conquered nearly all of Russia. Nearly a century later, Russia began to build their ties with the rest of the world. In 1553, England reached Russia by sea from the north and they began trading. This same time, Ivan the terrible inherited the throne of Russia at the age of three. He expanded Russia; and in the 1560’s, he formed his own army and killed anyone who was suspected of not following him. He even killed one of his own sons for suspected disloyalty. He died in 1584 and his son Theodore took the crown. He died fifteen years later, leaving only one legacy. He made all of the peasants into serfs. (Alexis Romanov) Elected by a group of powerful leaders, Peter the great became tsar in 1694. He began the modernization of Russia by encouraging foreign trade, building a navy and factories, reforming the government, and introducing western dress. With Peter, Russian began the Great Northern War with Sweden and in 1771 made peace, gaining Estonia and the Gulf of Finland. After his death, multiple monarchs ruled for short terms; and in 1755 under Empress Elizabeth, the first university of Russia was founded. In 1762, Catherine the Great came into power. Known as the “enlightened despot,” she expanded Russia, aided in a population boom, and expanded foreign trade and Russian business. (Catherine the Great) In 1853 the Crimean War began when the Russian tsar decided to overthrow a declining Turkey. Britain feared that Russia might also try to take India, so they, along with France, declared war on Russia. The Russians then withdrew from Rumania. Alexander II took power and abolished serfdom in 1861. Three attempts were made to assassinate him, but none were successful until 1881. Alexander III took power at the same time that the Industrial Revolution was beginning in Russia. The trans-Siberian railroad was completed in 1905. (Russian Soldiers during the Crimean War) During World War I, Russia suffered many irreparable losses, so much that the country was said to have “bled to death.” After World War I, the Bolsheviks began gaining strength; and after a four yearlong civil war starting in November 1917, they had gained control of Russia. Lennon was the first leader of the Bolshevik party. There was much unrest due to the communist rules; however Lennon lessened this by relaxing the rules on free business. He then died shortly after and Stalin took over, making himself dictator. Stalin killed millions of people through man-made famines, executions, and labor camps. As the Nazi army was gaining strength in Germany, Stalin attempted to make an anti-aggression pact. This did not last long because Germans invaded Russia in 1941. At first, the Russians had a great number of casualties, but thanks to aid from Britain and the United States, they were eventually able to regain control of Russia from the Nazi forces in 1943. After World War II, Russia, despite its new control of Eastern Europe, was in great decline. Stalin died in 1953 and was replaced by Khrushchev. During Khrushchev’s rule, Russia had a period of growth including notable events like the launching of Sputnik and the first human to travel in space. Khrushchev was then replaced by Brezhnev, who spent a lot money on the army and began a war with Afghanistan. During this time Russian economy slowed to a standstill. Then Russia went through a quick succession of leaders with the final successor being Gorbachev, in 1985. Communism fell in Russia in 1991 and over the next nine years transitioned into capitalism. With capitalism, Russia became a major economic power and remains so today. (Current Russia) III. __Current Government and Politic__ Russia current Chief of State is President Dmitriy Anatolyevich Medvedev. They have a Head of Government; at this time it is Premier Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. The Russian legal system is based on a civil law system. Similarly to the United States government the President sets up a cabinet, with people that they feel will be able to assist in making government decisions. The president is elected through a vote by the public for a four-year term; they can be reelected for a second term. Russia does not have a vice president, if for some reason the President is unable to fulfill their duties the Premier will step in and act as the President until a new election is held. The extra election must take place within three months. Russian citizens must be 18 years old in order to vote. While we have the house and senate they have the bicameral Federal Assembly, the upper house has 168 seats, the lower house has 450 seats. The members of both houses are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The Federation Council appoints the judges in the Constitutional Court and Supreme Arbitration Court for life after the president makes his recommendation.  (Russian White House) IV. __Current Economics__ Russia state of economy is in a state of decline that is expected to continue for another two years when it will bottom out. Many believe that this recession is due to various factors including the state of the world economy with major nations like the United States and China also in decline, the state of the Russian banking industry, and oil prices being so high. The Russian banking industry has been in decline ever since 1998 when Russia decided to devalue the ruble. It became so bad in the early 21st century that some Russian banks began printing the ruble illegally to relieve their stress and pay their debts. This year, Russian economists estimate that overdue loans in Russia will increase by twenty percent a month. Despite this depression, Russia is beginning to stabilize its economy. This action was taken when the government implemented a $20 billion dollar tax cut plan. Russia has the largest reserve of natural gas in the world and is the second largest oil producer.  (Russian Roubles) **__ Cultural Behaviors __** || **__ Education Implication __** || **__ Strategies __** || || Most public schools in the U.S. have strict rules against showing affection. Students could end up with referrals, or other punishments. || The schools rules about socializing and showing affection need to be clearly explained. The student should restate the rules in their own words. Demonstrating that they understand. || || Russian students may get offended or agitated if their classmates are smiling constantly. That frustration may lead to class disruptions or altercations with the other students. || Showing clips from various television programs could show how multiple cultures interact with their peers. So that the student can see that in the American culture it’s normal and even expected to greet people with a smile when you see them. || || A student who has been raised thinking “I’m sorry” should only be said if a person has done something wrong. Could decide that his classmates and teachers are not sincere. This would possibly lead to the student feeling suspicious of the motives of others. || During a class meeting students and teacher can talk about the differences between the various cultures in the room. By clearly expressing the differences in how each culture expresses their sympathy, students should be better able to understand the reactions of their peers. || || This may cause students to find it acceptable to not wait in lines and may cause confrontations if they push their peers, even if it was unintentional. || Do social stories to show the student haw to wait in line. Run through scenarios with the student and give them opportunities to be line leader, so that they see the importance of standing in lines. Directly tell the student about the safety of standing in lines and of not pushing other students. Review some stories on pushing with the student. || || The student may offend teacher or disrupt lesson if they do not agree with the teacher of the methods in the class. || If the student is not being offensive, do not change the behavior. If the student begins to disrupt the class, then suggest other methods of voicing their opinions, such as a thought journal or a comment box, and have the student write comments to the teacher through these. || || The teacher may think that the student is undermining their authority and is being conceited. || When the student makes eye contact at inappropriate times, explain to them about your culture and let them explain theirs. Make an agreement on when eye contact is appropriate. If the eye contact is bothering other students, do a cultural unit on various cultures and their habits to explain to your students. || || Students and teachers may take this as an invasion of personal space. || Explain to the student that some cultures do not enjoy close contact and why they do not feel comfortable like that. Explain to your class about different cultures and their feelings about personal space. Discuss this topic with your class to relieve their anxieties on the subject and then develop a plan for situations when the students become uncomfortable, like if they explain that they don’t feel comfortable or they have a hand signal to warn that they are uncomfortable. || || The student may not accept individual awards or praise. They may not work as well when given individual attention or group projects with peer leaders. || Make sure that the teacher gives group recognition along with the individual praise and if the student is still uncomfortable with the individual awards, make sure that you make these awards at a time that the student has the option of being somewhere else. || **__ References __** Lambert, T. (2008). //A Brief History of Russia//. Retrieved October 5, 2009, from Localhistories.org Web site: __ [] __
 * __ Russia Cultural Group __**
 * **__ Behavior __**
 * Russians are very intimate with their partners. They are not afraid to show affection in public places. (This is an overt behavior because they are displaying public acts of affection.)
 * People from Russia do smile and have joy in their lives. However, they are often uncomfortable with people who smile constantly. Many consider people who walk around smiling at all times to be false. (This behavior is covert because the student is uncomfortable with the action and will not smile all of the time because they feel uncomfortable with others doing it.)
 * It has been noted numerous times that Russians question the way American’s apologize regardless if they did something wrong or not. To them it is more logical that when someone gives you bad news to say something like “That’s a shame.” Rather than “I’m sorry.” They think I’m sorry should be for when you actually offend someone or cause a problem. (This behavior is covert because the Russian student is confused and suspicious of those who apologize frequently and you cannot directly measure their level because it is an internal feeling.)
 * In Russia, people do not like to form lines. They often crowd around the area in which they want to go. Although they form crowds where pushing and shoving are normal occurrences, this is considered socially acceptable. (This is an overt behavior because the student can be seen pushing other students and going around their peers who have formed a line.)
 * Russians tend to speak their mind and are not afraid to voice their opinions, whether in public, at home, or at work. (This is an overt behavior because the student will verbally announce their feelings.)
 * Russians tend to look straight ahead when walking or when relaxing, as opposed to our western tradition of looking down and avoiding prolonged eye contact. (This behavior is an overt behavior because you can see the student keeping prolonged eye contact and looking straight ahead.)
 * Russians are used to crowds and don’t mind standing close to others. (This is a covert behavior because you can observe the student standing close to others, but the reaction of others is overt because they may feel uncomfortable.)
 * Although Russians have a strong sense of authority, they focus on community and group interaction, rather than individual achievement. (This behavior is overt, as you cannot measure how close they are with group interaction. This is based more on the level of comfortableness and familiarity with group work that cannot be measured in a physical way.)

//A Brief History of Russia//. (2009). Retrieved October 5, 2009 from Beloit College Official Web site: __ [] __

CIA. (October 5, 2009). //CIA-The World Fact Book- Russia//. Retrieved October 5, 2009 from The World Fact Book Web site: __ [] __ Aparicio, S. (2008). //Experiencing Russian Culture: Maymester in Saint Petersburg//. Retrieved October 5, 2009 from Russian at Vanderbilt web site: __ [] __ Goehner, D., Richmond, Y. (2005). //Russian/ American Cultural Contrasts//. Retrieved October 5, 2009 from the Duane Goehner Web site: __ [] __

Agence French Presse. (April 9, 2009). //Top Russian Banker Says Crisis has Just Begun.// Retrieved October 5, 2009 from India Press Web site: __ [] __ Nayler, Ray. (August 32, 2007). //Russian Culture Tips: Some Suggestions for Appropriate Behavior while Visiting Russia.// Retrieved October 2, 2009 from __Russia Travel Suite101.com__. 2 Oct. 2009 [] //Geography of Russia //- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved October 3, 2009 from __Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia__. [|]