Russia, the largest country in the world, is in a political state of flux. A former world superpower, it is argued by many that it is battling to retain its world position, whilst the other world powers have established their’s. The USA remains the world’s most powerful country, Japan is still a leading nation in technology and innovation. France and Germany have emerged as the leaders of the EU; the ones who will dictate foreign and economic policy on the continent, while the UK remains the loyal opposition to full European integration, a power with toes in both European and World politics thanks to close relations with America. India and China fill the positions as the new world powers.
Russia fails to fit into any neat role in world politics. It is certainly one of the leading world nations, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a G8 nation and 1/4 of the BRIC nations. However in most sectors it often plays the role of the bridesmaid. Whereas China, India and Brazil (Russia’s fellow BRIC nations) have seen their regional power grow rapidly, Russia has seen its influence fall as former Soviet territories, including Poland, Romania etc become increasingly involved in Europe, whilst others, such as Georgia, seek to repel Russian influence at all costs.
It was once one of two great military powers in the world, but now has a military smaller than that of North or South Korea, India, Iran, Vietnam, China and the USA and although its economy is still one of the biggest in the world (the IMF puts Russia as the 9th largest economy in 2011) it has been hit by the financial crisis and its growth rate is now at 4.3%, compared to fellow BRIC nations, India and China, who are growing at rates of 7.8% and 9.5% respectively (figures from CIA World Factbook, 2011).
With the collapse of a Soviet lead ideological, the role of Russia in world affairs has diminished considerably. The post-Cold War world has become increasingly entwined with the American way of life, marginalizing the role of Russia. Whereas once the policies of Moscow were seen as an indicator of global politics, increasingly the world looks to Brussels, Beijing and Washington DC to gain a measure of world affairs.
However this has not stopped Russia to continue to exercise its political muscles. The recent conflict in Syria is a prime example of the way Russia can still use its veto power to influence world politics. Russia has continually opposed increased action in Syria and today (31/05/2012) Hilary Clinton has condemned Russia’s stance over the issue, arguing that their decision to limit international involvement would push Syria closer to civil war. Russia has taken similar controversial stances over other political events, including Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008. These big global affairs affirms Russia’s position as a leading world power, but the ability of other world powers to act in the world, often without reference to the position of Moscow, shows the change in power from the heyday of Soviet Power.
Russia is still an important world power, this is something no-one can doubt; however it is a nation still, 20 years later, coming to terms with the collapse of a system that made them one of two leading powers in the world. It is a nation in a state of flux between retaining their supreme economic, military and political power, whilst also accepting that other nations have grown to compete with and eclipse this former superpower.
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