ABSTRACT
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic acquired the status of an independent nation and became known as Russia or the Russian Federation. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian economy went into freefall. Egor Gaidar headed a team of economists who introduced shock therapy to reform the moribund planned economy. Russia's goal after the demise of the USSR was to join the club of 'civilised nations'. It dreamed of becoming as rich as the leading Western countries and expected money and aid to achieve this, but the West did not reciprocate. The West should start a new Cold War–style offensive against Islamic State, and removing Colonel Gaddafi from power in Libya left the region more dangerous. Africa was forgotten by the West after the Cold War, so China seized the opportunity to enter the continent and learn international business.
