NationStates Jolt Archive

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,426393,00.html
A Former Superpower Rises Again
By Walter Mayr and Christian Neef

The leaders of the G-8 group of major industrialized nations are meeting this week for the group's first summit in Russia. The Kremlin, bolstered by billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues, comes to the meeting with an important message: The West should finally accept the fact that Moscow has returned to the world stage.

This article is obviously somewhat critical of the message coming out of Russia these days...but what do you think? Is Russia a superpower? Will it be? When? And what course do you think it will take in the next twenty years or so?

A conventional world power perhaps, but not a superpower. They are incapable of global projection of power without the use of nuclear weapons. They are certainly a regional power, and an increasingly capable economy, but their rapid population decline, the corruption within their government, and the remaining economic woes that still plague much of the country hurt their chances greatly.

The Kremlin, bolstered by billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues...

Thank you Ukraine. :D

Ukrain isnt part of russia, just getting that out

I think they are not, but could be. but with the coruption, no

Y'all should try reading the article as well...

that takes to long

Ukrain isnt part of russia, just getting that out

I think they are not, but could be. but with the coruption, no
No, I mean remember the whole Ukraine/Russia gas payment crisis last winter? The thing where Russia redid the contracts and put up the prices, primarily because of the new pro-West govt. in Ukraine?

Damn, if I have to start explaining my jokes; means I must have lost it. :eek:

snip

Meh. Its 2.30am. Maybe later.

I do like that they chose Peter's "Window to the West" for where they'd attempt to represent Russia reborn. Shows that they do remember and appreciate the meaning that the city once held for Russia.

I think Russia's a superpower. It still has one of the world's largest militaries, and it's the world's largest oil producing country.

Y'all should try reading the article as well...
I is illiterat.

Before reading the article, I am going to say the Russia will project its power whether or not it has any power to project.

Russia has been for half a millenia, and will continue to be into the foreseeable future, one of the most powerful nations on Earth. This power derives from its control of immense amounts of natural resources and a mind set wherein the people obey the leaders.

Whethter this makes it a superpower, depends upon the definition of this term. For me Russia is as powerful as the USA in overall terms. It does not have the military power but it does have the resources and the willingness to use these to obtain its ends.

Russia has most of the energy supply. They have enough oil that they pretty much burn some of it just for the hell of burning it....


I'd say they are a superpower just because of that. They could fuck a lot of people over by increasing oil prices or just hoarding it for themselves...

Wow, Russians sounds like a bunch of tits.

They're the new Americans.

Not close.

Although they do have good music and great women.

Not close.

Although they do have good music and great women.
But their porn stars are butt ugly.

please, at least don't be communist this time.

I can't wait for the Cold War to start up again! Cool spy movies...

please, at least don't be communist this time.
This time they should aim to be commie-nazis

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,426393,00.html


This article is obviously somewhat critical of the message coming out of Russia these days...but what do you think? Is Russia a superpower? Will it be? When? And what course do you think it will take in the next twenty years or so?

the mob may be...russia..not a chance,they are pimping their women.

This time they should aim to be commie-nazis
no. they should aim to be capitalist.

"According to Mayor Valentina Matviyenko, the killings had nothing to do with racism. Some may call St. Petersburg the "capital of xenophobia," but Matviyenko believes the attacks were simply ineffectual "attempts to discredit the G-8 summit" -- and, by extension, Putin."

Dear lord. Someone's on denial. They are racist to their own (hanti, mansi, nenetsi etc no idea about English spelling) people too. Racism and especially neonazism is a huge issue in Russia.

This time they should aim to be commie-nazis
And maybe we can have Anarcho-Fascists if we want to have oxymoronic statements.

"According to the Russian president's logic, he doesn't need to take criticism about Moscow's democratic and human rights deficiencies seriously as long as the West remains more interested in oil prices and pipelines."

And not too many even critisise it. Many European countries are way too dependent upon Russia.

I think Russia's a superpower. It still has one of the world's largest militaries, and it's the world's largest oil producing country.

Nah Russia's a dead duck in the water. I don't think they'll ever be a "superpower" again. Their millitary may be big but it's a bunch of prehistoric crap. I also think that Saudi Arabia holds the record for world's largest oil producer and exporter.

Don't forget Russia's been a democracy for 10 years now. IF the commies were going to take over again they would have done it long before now.

Does anyone know if Russia has the two term only thing in it's constitution?

Anyway Putin's just an overblown windbag with a lot of wind. As Australian ex-prime minister, Paul Keating said A souffle never rises twice... (I'm refering to Russia not Putin)

The Ukraine has been coping alot of bull**** from Russia. I think it's time the world stood up to countries like North Korea, Iran and Russia.

We should be really worried about North Korea, they're the ones with the
up-to-date nukes. Russia's nukes'd probably blow up before they could even be launched.

And maybe we can have Anarcho-Fascists if we want to have oxymoronic statements.
I'm sure Russia could figure out how to make it work.

Nah Russia's a dead duck in the water. I don't think they'll ever be a "superpower" again. Their millitary may be big but it's a bunch of prehistoric crap. I also think that Saudi Arabia holds the record for world's largest oil producer and exporter.

Don't forget Russia's been a democracy for 10 years now. IF the commies were going to take over again they would have done it long before now.

Does anyone know if Russia has the two term only thing in it's constitution?

Anyway Putin's just an overblown windbag with a lot of wind. As Australian ex-prime minister, Paul Keating said A souffle never rises twice... (I'm refering to Russia not Putin)
Yep sure, compare a ideology to pastry.

Totally makes your argument true.

Does anyone know if Russia has the two term only thing in it's constitution?

Yes. The majority of Russians want Putin to continue but he has said no (so far)

Yep sure, compare a ideology to pastry.

Totally makes your argument true.

lol. Are you being sarcastic? It's really hard to tell. Besides a politician said it, not me.

Yes. The majority of Russians want Putin to continue but he has said no (so far)

thanks. hopfully some one more moderate comes along and lets go of all the journos in prison.

The Ukraine has been coping alot of bull**** from Russia.


What do you mean?

thanks. hopfully some one more moderate comes along and lets go of all the journos in prison.
Not likely. Russians love their strong (=dictatorial) leaders. They will vote Putin's favourite (he has presented 2 possible candidates)

read "The Bear and The Dragon" by Tom Clancy. the answers are right there.

read "The Bear and The Dragon" by Tom Clancy. the answers are right there.
Russia is going to attack Stephen Colbert, but the USA is going to save him by burning the bear?

What do you mean?

Well, before Yushchenko , the western-looking current President of the Ukraine, there was Yanukovych a corrupt, election rigging pro-Moscovite. He was basically Moscow's footstool and the Ukraine was the floor. In 2004 Yanukovych blatantly rigged the election, not even secretly. The people rose up in a spectacular showdown of people power called the Orange Revolution which installed (democratically) Yushchenko as president of the Ukraine thus, supposedly, ending Russian dominance over INDEPENDANT Ukraine. But NOW the one thing that Ukraine NEEDS from Russia is gas to supply nearly 70% of the country's power and What does Russia decide to do? Jack up the price. By 400%!

Well, before Yushchenko , the western-looking current President of the Ukraine, there was Yanukovych a corrupt, election rigging pro-Moscovite. He was basically Moscow's footstool and the Ukraine was the floor. In 2004 Yanukovych blatantly rigged the election, not even secretly. The people rose up in a spectacular showdown of people power called the Orange Revolution which installed (democratically) Yushchenko as president of the Ukraine thus, supposedly, ending Russian dominance over INDEPENDANT Ukraine. But NOW the one thing that Ukraine NEEDS from Russia is gas to supply nearly 70% of the country's power and What does Russia decide to do? Jack up the price. By 400%!
That's what I thought. Free market is evil to you? The fact is that Ukraine got gas almost for free. Now they have to pay something for it but not even closely the same amount than everyone else is paying (except Belarus, I assume). Why on earth should Russia keep giving free gas to a country which is openly anti Russian? Would any other country do that? That's the price of indenpendency (and it isn't too high IMO)

Russia is no good. I agree with you on that one. But this gas conflict is one thing I can't understand. When they finally act like capitalists, capitalists complain like never before.

That's what I thought. Free market is evil to you? The fact is that Ukraine got gas almost for free. Now they have to pay something for it but not even closely the same amount than everyone else is paying (except Belarus, I assume). Why on earth should Russia keep giving free gas to a country which is openly anti Russian? Would any other country do that? That's the price of indenpendency (and it isn't too high IMO)

Russia is no good. I agree with you on that one. But this gas conflict is one thing I can't understand. When they finally act like capitalists, capitalists complain like never before.

You completey misunderstood me. I'm an avowed promotor of big bucks :D ok maybe the Ukraine didn't pay to start with but surely Germany, Austria, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, who all buy Russian gas, don't pay that much. And besides do really think just voting for the man that Russia doesn't like makes a whole country anti-Russian. The Ukraine still wants to join in a free trade thingy with Russia. Does that sound anti-russian to you?

Ukraine is a country trying trying to get on it's feet, and i understand your thing about capitalism but surely it wouldn't have hurt Russia to lay off for a few years.

The Ukraineans don't and won't deny that they rely on Russia but upping the price by 400%! thats not fair and before you start spouting life isn't fair...
i already know.

Let me point out that when Russia jacked up the price, the Ukraine had been independant for 14 years.

Lastly, i am not, never will be and never have been anti-russian. Please don't think i'm attacking you, but i had to make that clear.

You completey misunderstood me. I'm an avowed promotor of big bucks :D ok maybe the Ukraine didn't pay to start with but surely Germany, Austria, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, who all buy Russian gas, don't pay that much. And besides do really think just voting for the man that Russia doesn't like makes a whole country anti-Russian. The Ukraine still wants to join in a free trade thingy with Russia. Does that sound anti-russian to you?

heh, ok, but I could say that many Russians (politicians) think pro European = anti Russian...(btw there are A LOT of pro Russian politicians in Ukraine too. The rural countryside is mostly pro Russian.

Let me point out that when Russia jacked up the price, the Ukraine had been independant for 14 years.

Lastly, i am not, never will be and never have been anti-russian. Please don't think i'm attacking you, but i had to make that clear.
Independent but also had much more closer ties to Russia (like Belarus).

No worries, I'm neither pro or anti Russian. It's a huge country with huge problems. The economy is getting stronger, human and political rights weaker.

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,426393,00.html


This article is obviously somewhat critical of the message coming out of Russia these days...but what do you think? Is Russia a superpower? Will it be? When? And what course do you think it will take in the next twenty years or so?Russia has vast amounts of natural gas at its disposal. When fossil fuels begin to get scarce, it will be a super power.