Russian and Eastern European Cultures Author:Paul Thomas Welty The World Cultures Sourcebooks is a collection of observations, documents, and primary sources. This series is dedicated to students who wish to evaluate sources and base conclusions upon firsthand evidence chosen from the ideas of inquiring minds. This Sourcebook introduces the peoples of the Russian and Eastern European Cultures. At present... more » the eight states constituting communist East Europe vary considerably in territory and population, but none is able to claim the rank of a great power. Three-Poland, Rumania, and Yugoslavia-may be classified together as comparatively large in relation to the others; four-Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and Hungary-as of middle rank; and one-Albania-as small. Prior to 1914 it was mainly a realm of great empires that between them controlled the bulk of the area. Historically it is a zone of economic and social awkwardness, of intense national conflict, and of political weakness both between its own peoples and states, and among the great powers pursuing their own interests in the area. The area usually referred to as Russia is officially titled the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. It is composed of fifteen republics governed by soviets or councils. The republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Russia, Tadzhik, Turkmen, Ukrainia, and Uzbek. The stretch from central -eastern Europe to central Asia. Because of its size the USSR has a diverse mix of climates, topography, and peoples. This volume traces the roots of communism, the establishment of collective farms, the Soviet education system, career opportunities, and much more.« less