ABSTRACT
Years after the destruction of the Soviet Union, its effective heir, Russia, is still trying to find its place in the world economy and international relations. All quantitative parameters considered, Russia is a highly industrialized country with enormous potential for development in terms of both resources and existing infrastructure and has an educated urban population. From the viewpoint of international relations, Russia ceased to be the focus with the collapse of the bipolar structures of the Cold War. The Soviet Union played the role of the scarecrow, the bête noir, in the old global order during the Cold War. The unseemly manifestations of the Soviet Utopia contributed to political tolerance, multiculturalism, and economic integration in the West. The global dichotomy between haves and have-nots leaves Russia in a precarious position. Russia's emerging market has few regulations and norms. The economic problems are compounded by failure of the Russian presidency and the parliament to generate a coherent industrial and trade policy.
