Russia: country overview and analysis

Country Report: Russia

Ethnicity & Religion:

Russia has a population of 143.78 million people, with Russians (81.5%) forming the predominant ethnic group followed by Tatars (3.8%) and Ukrainians (3%). The Russian society is, therefore, relatively homogeneous -- more so because almost the entire population speaks the Russian language. The exception to this rule is the North Caucasus and parts of the middle Volga region where the majority of the populations consist of ethnic minorities. In the Communist era, religious practice was frowned upon but religious activity among Russians has risen sharply in post-Soviet period. About 75% of those Russians who believe in religion consider themselves Russian Orthodox Christians, while 19% are Muslims, and 6% believe in other religions. Ethnicity and religion are a cause of tension in society only in some Republics having major ethnic minorities such as in Chechnya and Dagestan where parts of the population have been fighting for secession from the Russian federation.

Demographics:

Most Russians -- approximately 78% of the population -- live in the European part of Russia, where most of the major industrial cities are also located, e.g., Moscow (13 million), St. Petersburg (4.4 million) and Novosibirsk. Three-fourths of Russians live in urban areas and the population density varies greatly from more than 200 persons per square kilometer in parts of European Russia, to 0.03 person per square kilometer in the Evenk, an autonomous Region of Siberia. ("A Country Study...," 2004' para on Demographics) major worry regarding the demographics of Russia is its declining population. The current population growth rate in Russia is minus 0.48%, which is attributable to a low birth rate (9.63 births / 1000 people) and a high death rate (15.17 deaths / 1000 people) resulting in a declining life expectancy (66.39 years). Reasons for the declining population include the absence of the post-World War II "baby boom" in Russia, which has caused a secondary increase in population in the 90s; a long history of Soviet ecological abuse, and most of all: a general decline in health and economic conditions in the post-Soviet era. Continuing decline in the country's population, coupled with the problem of "brain-drain" of its skilled population, could have serious long-term social and economic repercussions.

The Russian Society in the Post-Soviet Period

The demise of the Soviet Union in 1991 proved to be a major social and economic shock for large sections of the Russian population. After having lived for several decades under a system that guaranteed employment, basic medical care, and government subsidies for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, the average Russian citizens were suddenly confronted with having to fend for themselves. A small minority of the Russians took advantage (both legal and illegal) of the newfound freedom for economic advancement and soon became the new class of wealthy Russians while the rest of the population were inadequately prepared to face the precipitous rise in prices of basic necessities that followed the easing of economic controls. As a result, most of the Russian people who were optimistic about a future of freedom and opportunity in 1991 have been frustrated by the chaos, declining living standards, violent and rampant crime, and unemployment that followed. However, most of them have gradually resigned themselves to their situation and are enduring the circumstances in the best way possible.

Generational Groupings

Perhaps the most appropriate way to analyze the Soviet society in the post-Soviet period is to look at the effect of the change on different age groups of the population as has been done in a 2001 "Human Development Report" published by UNDP. The report reveals that among the different age-groups of Russians -- the "soviet" generation, born in the 1920s and 30s have been "pushed to the sidelines of public life" and suffer from an intense feeling of depression close to a feeling of being a social outcast. The "middle generation" groups too suffer from a deep "socio-emotional" crisis, considering itself as a generation "lost" in the waves of transformation and in their "struggle for survival." The younger Russian generation, on the other hand, has coped best with the changes; it feels much more confidant in facing the challenges of a market economy and has the highest incomes as compared to the other age groups. ("Human Dev. Report," 2002)

Social Structure