Part 1 - Answer each question with at least 100 words.

Q1: Vladimir Putin was recently reelected to another term as President of Russia (2012). Based on your readings and your knowledge, do you feel that Russia is ready to resume its role as superpower much like they did during the Cold War as a result of Putin's continued leadership?

Q2: Does Russian aggression in Ukraine since 2013 constitute the first incident of a "new Cold War" whereby Russia will seek to reacquire the former Soviet Republics, such as Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, amongst others.

Part 2 -

Directions: Please search for two research articles that will serve as the basis for your homework this week.

Beginning in 1989 and continuing through 1991, the Soviet Union broke up. The Former Soviet Republics, as they are known today, immediately initiated social change and democratic free market economies. Nearby nations that were also under Soviet influence also took advantage of the offer of freedom and opened up democratic reforms. A partial list of those countries is shown below:

• Hungary
• Czech Republic
• Slovakia
• Poland
• Romania
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Estonia
• Ukraine
• Belarus
• Armenia
• Georgia
• Belarus

Select one of those countries listed above and provide a 2-3 page double-spaced, APA-formatted essay that addresses the following questions:

• Is this country better off today than it was while under Soviet rule?
• Consider such factors as economic prosperity, the health and welfare of the people, and the overall health of the country;
• As well, consider the toll that the physical environment might have on any wealth (or lack of wealth) the nation might have.