Russia is nowhere near a superpower – Swedish economist

[vK_man]

that's interesting, worth reading more about it...

http://www.think-magazine.com/images/stories/deadhand.pdf

 

[ptldM3]

Russia’s defense budget is 10 times lower than that of the NATO countries, Aslund points out.

Russia's military spending should be around 81 billion, at least according to one source. So NATO countries spend 810 billion dollars on defense? What school did Aslund graduate from?

 

[LittleFish]

Such a highly industriallized, abundant in resource, vast in land and millitarily strong country should not be underestimated, though maybe Russia is now not the level of US and USSR, it is still a top 3 country of the world..

 

[MarkovChain]

Such a highly industriallized, abundant in resource, vast in land and millitarily strong country should not be underestimated, though maybe Russia is now not the level of US and USSR, it is still a top 3 country of the world..

It all depends on the perspective. IMHO, a super-power status is achieved not just by military might or economic infrastructure but by the ability to integrate several cultures, attract strong talent pool worldwide through their education system and high end work opportunity. In other words, it should be a land where foreigners actively seek to come and want to live in. USA. 19th century Britain, 17th century Russia, Ottomons, early Muslim rulers, Romans and Greeks all fall under this category. I don't think current day Russia is anywhere near that now.

 

[Meengla]

It all depends on the perspective. IMHO, a super-power status is achieved not just by military might or economic infrastructure but by the ability to integrate several cultures, attract strong talent pool worldwide through their education system and high end work opportunity. In other words, it should be a land where foreigners actively seek to come and want to live in. USA. 19th century Britain, 17th century Russia, Ottomons, early Muslim rulers, Romans and Greeks all fall under this category. I don't think current day Russia is anywhere near that now.

Good post.
Perhaps add emerging China to that? And the Mongol Empire--supposedly attracted people from different regions and integrated them like the modern USA does?

I don't think Russia is a Superpower and neither it claims to be. Russia wants to protect itself. From the vagaries of 'freedom and democracy'. It's too bad that America-led global capitalist vultures can't wait for Russia to fully integrate with the world and have been pricking Russia forever. These capitalists are not averse to bloodshed. Money is their God.

War is a big business. I think M. Moore's 'Fahrenheit 411' is well worth watching, especially to see how killing others is so taken for granted.

 

[northeast]

Yes，I agree that Russia is not a superpower.The only superpower on this earth is the US of A.

 

[MarkovChain]

Perhaps add emerging China to that?

China currently embodies a challenge to the idea that the west has answers to all the questions of governance. China has done very well to rise and they will be a military and economic powerhouse but whether they will turn that into a cultural hub of influence is yet to be seen. As someone in China cited "we have kung-fu and we have pandas but we are yet to make a film like kung-fu panda". A lot of the best Chinese students still end up in the US universities and companies unfortunately and the next 20 years will be an interesting phase for China to see if the policies good for achieving quick rise in standard of living is the same that sustains its current governance structure at a developed period.

And the Mongol Empire--supposedly attracted people from different regions and integrated them like the modern USA does?

Mongols are always the exception! Coolest civilization in the world - and you know what the best part is? They aren't even technically a civilization

I don't think Russia is a Superpower and neither it claims to be. Russia wants to protect itself. From the vagaries of 'freedom and democracy'. It's too bad that America-led global capitalist vultures can't wait for Russia to fully integrate with the world and have been pricking Russia forever. These capitalists are not averse to bloodshed. Money is their God.

War is a big business. I think M. Moore's 'Fahrenheit 411' is well worth watching, especially to see how killing others is so taken for granted.

Russia is going down the nonsense path which the US went through in the late 60s and early 2000s. You cannot be influential if the only power you yield is one of fear. US learned that the hard way but its damage was limited by the fact that it was pretty much the dominating force. Russia, if it continues this path will face increasing hostility from other nations and from within itself.

 

[damiendehorn]

yea right, maybe sweden is the super power ...

russia is the largest country in the world with the most resources for any nation and the largest nuke stockpile. the west needs to stop eyeing russian assets and give up trying to create an artificial enemy. more than half of erstwhile soviet states are considering reunification and these turds keep thinking their propaganda will work.

Which erstwhile soviet states are considering reunification? Please show proof.