Points of Russia: Exploring the Land of the Tsars

Seeking Understanding From Russia’s Struggles When news of the Russian Civil War began to spread in 1917, few people could have foreseen the devastating effects it would have. Over a quarter of a million people lost their lives and millions more were displaced, leading to one of the most traumatic and chaotic episodes in modern world history. Much has been written about the motivations behind the conflict, but what do we really know about it today? Is there any way to make sense of this tumultuous period? The Russian Civil War was a complex interplay of multiple ideologies, political agendas, personal grievances, and economic interests. Conflicting armies of Whites and Reds, which themselves were comprised of a multitude of factions, clashed over control of the nation. On top of the physical fighting, there was also a contested struggle over the country’s identity and its place in the world. While the immediate political outcome of the war tilted in favor of the Reds, it would be in...

Exploring Russia's Role in World Affairs Russia is a country with a long and storied history, which has had a profound impact on world affairs. From the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union to their continued presence in global geopolitics today, Russia’s role in world affairs has played an important role in shaping the modern world. In this article, we'll take a closer look at Russia's role in global affairs, and how it has influenced the way the world works today. Russia’s ties to the world date back centuries. After emerging from centuries of Mongol conquest, the Tsar of Russia- Ivan IV the Terrible- established the country’s hegemonic role in Northern Eurasia. He unified the region under a powerful dynasty of Romanov Tsars, who ruled Russia until the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Russia was a major power in Europe during this period, and was a major player in global politics, with a large empire stretching across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The end o...