The Geogrpahy of Post-Soviet Conflicts

Objective – Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 Russia and several other post-Soviet states have fought conflicts in the former empire’s borderlands. These conflicts have pitted the new states, rebel groups and Russia into conflict with each other. Over the last few years the United States and its NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) allies have been increasingly drawn into these conflicts creating the possibility of increased conflict between NATO and Russia.
– Students will be able to map the locations of regional conflicts in Eurasia.
– Students will determine the causes of the conflicts.
– Students will identify the nations involved.
– Students will evaluate which conflict has the greatest danger of drawing in other nations.

1. Students map conflicts within the area of the former Soviet Union using either on-line or printed map resources.
2. Using internet resources included in the lesson plan students will research the post-Soviet conflicts in Eurasia.
3. After completing the evaluation section at the end of the lesson the class will discuss the danger of conflicts in this region spreading and drawing in other nations.

The assignment can be streamlined by reducing the number of conflicts to be researched.

See PDF for student research packet

On-line Resources Research Resources
Post-Soviet Conflicts by Colonel Robert Hamilton, Parts 1 and 2
https://www.fpri.org/article/2017/12/post-soviet-wars-part-i https://www.fpri.org/article/2017/12/post-soviet-wars-part-ii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nklduvThs Understanding Ukraine: The Problems Today and Some Historical Context
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDwgJFrUfdo What’s happening in South Ossetia?
Instructor Resources – Links for Maps
https://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/eurasia.htm – Outline map of Eurasia
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/north-atlantic-treaty-organization-nato – Map of NATO Expansion