ABSTRACT
The Soviet Union and the new Russia will be treated together, but in sequence. If the Soviet Union was a global power the new Russia is more of a regional power. The demise of the Soviet Union in 1991 and its replacement by Russia have fundamentally changed the character of the relations between the Eurasian state and the countries of the AsiaPacific, as has indeed happened even more strikingly elsewhere in the world. In addition to the loss of the capabilities of a superpower, another significant change was the abandonment of communism and the concomitant claim to lead a world wide communist movement. Nevertheless there are important continuities. First, it is important to recognize that despite its universalist communist pretensions, a Russian imprint on Soviet conduct was always evident even though its depth may have been disputed.1 Second, and by the same token, the Soviet legacy is evident in many respects even as the leaders of the new Russia grope towards a different future. Importantly, the new Russia has been regarded internationally in some respects as the heir of the Soviet Union. For example, it assumed without question the Soviet permanent seat on the UN Security Council. And, like the Soviet Union before it, the new Russia still aspires to be recognized as a global power alongside the United States. In this respect Russia still disposes of a nuclear arsenal of superpower dimensions and its military industries can still produce advanced weapons systems.
