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I sometimes think how much more powerful Russia would be if they just adapted and played nice with everyone else. Probably on par with China. Perhaps it's the

by bserge 6y ago

I sometimes think how much more powerful Russia would be if they just adapted and played nice with everyone else. Probably on par with China. Perhaps it's the communist past that made them this way. Imperial Russia made a huge effort to westernize and modernize, but after the revolution, they kind of slid backwards, into some weird "self-sufficient but still world power" way of thinking. They have nothing to speak of when it comes to the economy, it's mostly natural resources being exported, and it's all owned by a few very rich individuals. Sad state of affairs.

mrguyorama 6y ago
It's because Russia as a country does not matter to those leading it. Putin and his friends have been plundering it hard since the USSR fell and nothing matters as long as they can keep raking in a significant portion of the country's GDP. That's why things like the Magnitsky act were so offensive to Russian leaders, because it hurt their riches personally, and also why they were so effective, until a certain someone basically unilaterally killed them