Soviet Far East: Geographical Perspectives on Development [Hardback]

The Far East constitutes the largest economic region in the Soviet Union. Enormous, isolated and sparsely populated it possesses mineral and other resources consistent with its size. Exploiting these resources is one of the key challenges facing the Soviet Union, and Gorbachev has announced a major problem of investment in the region which is to run until the year 2000. This book looks at the likelihood of this programme succeeding and concludes that it will have to improve significantly on earlier development projects if substantial progress is to be made. Seemingly intractable problems are posed by the combination of geographical remoteness, the inhospitability of the climate and the ingrained inefficiency of the administration. Attracting an adequate labour force to region remains a problem despite the inducements that are offered. Major problems to improve the transport infrastructure, including the construction of the Baykal-Amur mainline railway, have been dogged by delays and poor standards of performance. Even joint ventures involving the Japanese have not been successful, yet the region remains central to Soviet regional development. This book explores the Soviet Far East in all its geographical and economic complexity. Chapters on the current state of its development are supplemented by examinations of the history of its settlement; analysis of its unique environment and the threats which economic growth might pose for it and of the region's vital strategic significance.