Energy is the key to the development of Russia and the entire world, argue two outstanding physicists. They represent a new international prize intended to stimulate research for new energy technologies.
Russia’s need for a markedly different military organization became obvious, as never before, in the wake of the hostage drama at a theater center in Moscow. The fight against international terrorism and the threats posed by it requires profound changes in Russia’s military doctrine and in the armament of the army and law enforcement forces.
Russia’s international position at the start of 2003 is stable and generally favorable for accomplishing the immediate tasks of national revival in the social, economic, political, and psychological spheres. However, neither the new foreign policy pursued by the Russian government, nor the resultant stability of Russia’s international position can be called irreversible at this moment.
The hopes of the early 1990s for a breakthrough to a new, safer world order have not yet been realized. The world’s future depends on the way the international community chooses to ensure its security.
The European Union has still failed to define its new strategy towards Moscow. The EU, by maintaining an arms-length relationship with Russia, is seriously weakening its own international standing, especially while international security and geopolitics are regaining priority status.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the ‘Celestial Empire’ entered a period of unprecedented prosperity and unshakeable stability. A statement to this effect was made at the 16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which was held in the autumn of 2002. This document has had a great impact on life in China. However, in the near future China is likely to face some serious challenges, and the outcomes of these are presently difficult to predict.
The possible removal of Saddam Hussein, sought by Washington, may have unpredictable consequences. A collapse of the repressive regime, which maintains authority over the various latent, discontented forces, may explode into a blood bath, especially since these forces are abundant in Iraq.
Economic globalization is a new form or totalitarianism. It is impossible to speak of democracy in earnest when real power is not in the hands of governments elected by their citizens, but rather in the hands of transnational monopolies which no one has elected.
The threats that mankind may confront in the 21st century may be so great that no one, not even the mightiest nation, would be able to counter them on its own. The United States and Russia must play a special role in countering these threats. Private businesses, too, must assume their share of responsibility for the world’s security.
Having established stronger relations with the United States and Europe, Russia now needs a reliable partner in the Far East that could contribute to its program of modernization. Japan is the best candidate for that.
Having established stronger relations with the United States and Europe, Russia now needs a reliable partner in the Far East that could contribute to its program of modernization. Japan is the best candidate for that.
Russia’s economic and political influence in the world can increase only if it moves investment from the raw materials sector into high technologies. The present orientation of the Russian economy to the export of raw materials may make it a “colossus with feet of clay.”
Presently, the ‘Islamic threat’ to the ruling regimes in Central Asia is nonexistent: the Islamists are not prepared to take certain risks at a time when any measures against them would not be overly criticized in the world. However, the grounds for radical Islamic protests in the region still exist. There also remains the possibility that the existing Islamic organizations will survive, while new ones could emerge.
When the Baltic countries entered NATO and the European Union a couple of years ago, many thought it was the end of the centuries-old "red line." Euro-Atlantic organizations had crossed into the former Russian and Soviet empires.
In September 2004, the Russian city of Novgorod hosted an international conference entitled Russia at the Turn of the Century: Hopes and Reality. Its organizers were the RIA Novosti news agency, the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, Russia in Global Affairs, and The Moscow Times.