Throughout its history, Russia has sought to expand to defendable borders. The core of the country, which runs from north of Moscow down through the Volga region, holds the bulk of its population and food supply but is indefensible. Thus, for more than 500 years Russia has worked to expand its territory to defendable geographic anchors, such as the Caucasus, Carpathian and Tien Shan Mountains. Russia has also pushed out along the vulnerable North European Plain — one of the most critical routes for outsiders wishing to invade the country. These efforts have created a large buffer region surrounding the country's heartland. However, it has also meant that Russia has absorbed large populations that were not ethnically Russian or were hostile to Moscow. Russia's struggle to defend its territory from invasion has thus created the challenge of consolidating its internal population. With so many different identities in the country, divisions typically are overcome only by ideology or administration. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his Cabinet to devise a national social and ethnic policy by Dec. 1 — the first attempt to do so in 16 years.
