Abstract
The writer argues that Chechnya is just one example of the fact that the old Soviet Union was never truly unified and instead kept the various provinces in line through sheer force. The paper looks at the history of the fall of the Soviet Union and the opportunity this gave the tiny Chechnya to fight for independence. The paper then gives details of the war and the ways in which the Chechyns have found success.

From the Paper
"Chechnya is about the size of Connecticut, with a population of 1.3 million people, making up less than one percent of the population of the Russian Federation from which it set out to secede. The war that stated there was seen from the firs as having the chance to deal a blow to the endangered and incipient democratic reforms in Russia (Church 116). Indeed, the debacle in Chechnya did cause a shift in the way other republics viewed Russia. In 1996 and 1997, most of the 89 regional governments in the Russian Federation held elections for governors. In the past, these positions had been filled by people appointed by Moscow, and a governor who disobeyed could be replaced by someone more obedient. Now, many of the regions elected governors who were independent-minded, and less than half of Moscow's hand-picked candidates won the 1996 elections. These new governors no longer fear Russia's military power precisely because Chechnya's small guerrilla army handed Russia such a humiliating defeat. This now means that he only power Moscow has left is that it controls the purse strings. This is problematic as well given that Russia's national treasury is nearly empty and that Moscow has been forced to cut its flow of money to the regions, further weakening the central government's control over the regions ("Russia--Republics")."

Tags:war, Soviet, Union, independence, Moscow, guerilla

Abstract
Joseph Stalin was not a theorist, but he was a consummate politician. In the 1920s, Marxist-Leninist theoretical grounding was a primary mode of legitimation for those who aspired to leadership of the Russian Communist Party. The paper shows that Stalin was, therefore, always able to elucidate an appropriate theoretical pedigree for whatever he believed was the best course for the new nation or, not incidentally, for his own political ends. The paper shows that Stalin's first Five Year Plan -- adopted, modified and approved between September 1928 and April 1929 -- was just such a course of action. It explains how he changed his previously stated intentions and ideologies in order to develop the Five Year Plan and remain in power as the leader of Communist Russia.

From the Paper
"From his earliest study of Marxist theory Stalin was attracted to dialectical materialism as a world view that provided "a coherent overall philosophical image of the world" and conceived of society past and present "as a great battleground whereon two hostile forces -- bourgeoisie and proletariat -- are locked in mortal combat" (Tucker 118, 119). Socialism flowed inevitably, logically from Marx's systematic thought and justified the revolutionary extremism that had a special appeal for Stalin. In his early political incarnation Stalin sided with the so-called "hards" who were opposed to the moderation of the left. He became a leading proponent of Lenin's militant interpretation of Marx and, as a leading advocate of Bolshevism, Stalin "found himself in his spiritual element" (121)."

Tags:socialism, Bolshevism, Central, Committee, NEP

Abstract
This paper explains the new single European currency being used in 12 countries in Europe, so far. Specifically, the paper explores why the government of England decided not to join the singular currency, showing both the advantages and disadvantages of using one currency. The paper evaluates the Euro, in general, and looks at its impact on the UK's tourism industry.

From the Paper
"Because most of the cross-border countries of UK are members of EMU, the tourism industry of UK faces a high risk of price competition with the EMU nations, through comparisons in terms of travel fares and hotel accommodations. Travel cost in UK is likely to be more expensive, than
that of a country within the Euro zone, because of the cost of currency conversion. Single currency within the Euro zone may attract more travelers because of the convenience of not needing to convert currencies. In this view, in contrast to the possible increase in tourism rate among countries within the Euro zone, UK may experience a struggle in their tourism industry because of the inconvenience and cost UK's currency may bring to travelers."

Tags:trade, european, international, economics, finance, money, cash, britain, blair, pound, sterling

Abstract
This paper discusses that the Cuban Missile Crisis confrontation involved an American blockade around Cuba to prevent the Soviets from delivering any more missiles or other weapons to Cuba. The author points out that the event recently was compared to September 11, 2001, as a time when Americans realized that the oceans no longer protected us from enemy attack. The paper stresses that the speeches Kennedy made on American television demonstrated his concern about public opinion and his desire to have the American people watch carefully as he challenged the Soviets.

From the Paper
"Kruschev believed that if he could get the missiles into Cuba, he would close the gap between the Soviet Union and the United States and gain a strategic advantage. Kennedy certainly saw this possibility as well. Kennedy knew that American strategic interests lay in keeping the Soviets from gaining this advantage and in keeping the Soviets out of the Western Hemisphere, asserting the Monroe Doctrine that told all other powers to keep out of this part of the world. Kennedy also knew the Soviet capacity in terms of missiles and other weaponry, though he could not be sure that the Soviets would not use those weapons even if they could not follow up an attack with as much power as could the United States. Morgenthau also cites the mass of intelligence data gathered from the Russian spy Penkovsky, a trove called Ironbark, which told the United States what weapons the Soviets had and much more about their operations."

Tags:intelligence, television, opinion, protection, 9/11

Abstract
This paper explains that the historiography of the origins of the Cold War passes through three chronologically defined and ideologically distinct phases, which can be called "traditionalist," "revisionist," and "post-revisionist." Each reflects the cultural and political attitudes prevailing in the wider Cold War context of the particular era in which it flourished. The author points out that some historians believe that power politics and strategic considerations were more important than ideology in determining Soviet policy and behavior; therefore, the Cold War resulted from a contest of great powers, not a conflict of ideologies, and both the United States and the Soviet Union bear responsibility for the origins of the Cold War. The paper relates that a new element, which reflects important trends in modern Cold War scholarship, concerns the personality of Stalin, the nature of authoritarian government, and the character and content of Communist ideology.

From the Paper
"From the end of the Second World War until the mid-1960s, the "traditionalists" held the field with a standpoint that can be summarized as essentially pro-American/pro-Western and anti-Soviet. Essentially, such scholars held the Soviet Union responsible for the onset of the Cold War by undermining the Second World War alliance between East and West, increasing the level of military confrontation between Russia and America, and acting aggressively to promote the imposition and spread of Communism in Europe and elsewhere. It was thus argued that the United States was correct in its policy of containment towards the USSR and the Eastern Bloc, and that the American position was essentially a defensive one forced upon it by the hostility and aggression of the Communist East."

Tags:traditionalist, revisionist, post-revisionist, contest, stalin

Abstract
This paper examines to what extent did strategic preparation for the Russo-Japanese War determine the success of the belligerents in its outcome. It also looks at which side did the better job of planning for the termination of the war. The paper shows that there is no doubt that the Japanese were more prepared than the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. While the Russians were trying to become an imperial nation without understanding the costs associated with being one, the Japanese drew up a plan to confront the Russians. The keystone to this plan included a naval buildup to control the seas surrounding Japan, and a system of alliances that would eliminate foreign intervention. In addition, Japan studied its enemy and devised a strategy that would cripple the Russian fleet and capture the Korean peninsula. The paper shows that the Russians had no plan except for the complete overthrow of Japan and its disarmament. While Russia did not use the tools necessary to win a decision, Japan planned and executed an almost flawless limited war against a much greater power.

Paper Outline
Introduction
The Seeds of War
Preparing for Battle
Balance of Power
Planning of the War
Termination of the War
Conclusion
Bibliography

From the Paper
"As stated previously, Japanese strategists had studied the future conflict and made key assumptions. These assumptions focused on the fact that Japan had to prevent Russia from escalating the conflict and asserting its full strength in the war. Lastly, Japan would have to convince Russia that it could not win. It has already been seen that escalation would have been difficult as Russia was already diplomatically isolated and could not bring in new allies. In addition, Russian could not truly expand the war since Japan controlled the seas, and an attack on the Japanese islands was unlikely. Lastly, since Japan had limited objectives and never invaded Russian soil, the quantity and quality of Russian troops never developed."

Tags:mahan, sun, tzu, Manchuria, Vladivostok, Port, Arthur

Abstract
This essay addresses communism in the USSR, and why it was doomed to fail. Reasons behind the break-up of the USSR are discussed as well as Mikhail Gorbachev's structural overhaul, Glasnost and Perestroika and the effects of these policies. Lastly, the paper addresses why the USSR break-up occurred relatively peacefully.

From the Paper
"The seeds of disintegration of the Soviet Union were sown even as it formally began in 1922. Even as the shift to communism was made through the barrel of a gun, numerous individuals, ethnic groups and organizations such as the mainstream churches resisted their new communist masters. And while their resistance was stifled by violent and brutal measures, such as occurred in 1956 in Hungary and in 1965 in Czechoslovakia, resistance to communism continued, albeit underground. Like a festering boil in which pressure builds up over time, resistance to the central communist authorities in Moscow, within Russia and ultimately throughout the Soviet Empire, increased steadily. "

Tags:communism, glasnost, gorbachev, perestroika, soviet, union

Abstract
A paper detailing the war that ravaged the Balkans in the early 1990?s, which uncovers the humanity of an extraordinarily patriotic population of that land and the incredible suffering endured by them.

From the paper:

"Often our lives are difficult and too busy for us to be able to digest all the information that comes our way every day. Consequently, more often than not, we tend to overlook information that, we feel, does not directly impact us. Even when we do pay attention, the information is presented so matter-of-factly that it frequently leaves us emotionless, unaffected, and therefore unmoved to act.
While Bosnian Muslims and Croats cried out for help, the world stood quietly by and did practically nothing to deal with the main cause of their suffering - the ravaging warfare."

Tags:balkans, bosnia, cleansing, croatia, ethnic, mostar, muslims, race, religion, sarajevo, violence, war, yugoslavia

Abstract
This paper examines the part the Balkans had to play in the outbreak of World War I. It argues that whilst Russia, Serbia and Austria all viewed hostilities as local to the area, Germany deliberately exploited the situation to create European war.

From the Paper
"The racial struggle cannot be avoided " perhaps it will not take place now, but it will probably take place in one or two years." Kaiser Wilhelm II, 10 December, 1912 That the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand provided the spark for World War One there can be little doubt. However, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and many of his generals, cabinet and advisors, had been looking for an excuse to instigate European war, and more specifically the Schlieffen Plan, before Russia's military power grew to rival that of Germany's."

Tags:archduke, austria, europe, germany, russia, schlieffen, serbia, war, wilhelm, wwi, world, war, i

From the Paper
"THE WORKER AS RADICAL

In the autobiography of Ivanovich Kanatchikov, A Radical Worker in Tsarist Russia, Kanatchikov is radicalized by his work experience. He lives at a time of major change as many of the peasant class who worked the farms were being transferred by circumstances and economic change to urban factories where the work was very different. The radicalization of this worker takes place as he moves from the rural to the urban region, from farm work to factory work, from a state of political apathy to a state of political concern, and from worker to radical.

Kanatchikov's early life is in the rural regions, and there is no indication that this was some sort of ideal life later changed by the harshness of the factories. The life of the peasant was no better and perhaps worse than that of the factory ..."