Exploros | Eastern Europe: Government and Economy

Eastern Europe: Government and Economy

Students consider the government and economies of Eastern Europe in light of the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. They learn about the transitions to post-communist democracy in many of the Eastern European countries. Then they study the ethnic conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and explain how that situation offers valuable lessons in the connection between geography and politics. Finally, students create a list of questions they might ask someone who lived in Eastern Europe in 1991.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Overview

In this experience, students consider the government and economies of Eastern Europe in light of the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. They learn about the transitions to post-communist democracy in many of the Eastern European countries. Then they study the ethnic conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and explain how that situation offers valuable lessons in the connection between geography and politics. Finally, students create a list of questions they might ask someone who lived in Eastern Europe in 1991.

Objectives:

Describe the transition of Eastern European countries from communism to democracy.
Analyze the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, including lessons learned.

Has your family ever had a big event that changed life for every single member? Maybe it was a birth or a death—maybe it was a good-paying job or a move to a new location. When you think back, you may be surprised by how far-reaching that event was. The same is true in Eastern Europe. In 1991, a single event had the far-reaching effect of changing the governments of many Eastern European countries. You’ll learn more about that event—and the effects—in this experience.

Objectives:

Describe the transition of Eastern European countries from communism to democracy.
Analyze the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, including lessons learned.

Hammer and Sickle, Symbols of the Soviet Union

The year 1991 was a very important date for Eastern Europe. Do you know why? Write down what you know. If you don’t know why, that’s okay. Take a wild guess.

Post your answer

Discuss student responses. Explain that in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, creating a powerful ripple effect across Eastern Europe, which had been dominated by Soviet influence for the decades of the Cold War.

When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next section.

Write a question you have about how the Soviet Union and its collapse caused change in Eastern Europe.