Russia in Global Affairs

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RSCI Scopus

No. 4

2003 October/December

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Contents

The World of Tomorrow

Endless Redistribution

Konstantin Sonin

Russian Statehood: Back to the Future

Rethinking the New World Order

Vladislav Inozemtsev

Strategic Stability in a Globalized World

Yuri Baluyevsky

International Monetary System: The End of Monocracy

Whither Central Asia?

Calling Up the Past

Islam’s Modernization: How Plausible Is It?

Rafael Khakimov

A Unique Entity of the Russian Federation

Articles

The World of Tomorrow

Domestic political stability is a must for building a flexible yet stable and effective state system in Russia. Its desire for stability means that a rather authoritarian type of government is to be expected for a lengthy period of time.

Endless Redistribution

Attempts to reduce inequality by revising the past privatization of the major industrial enterprises, or by levying a natural resource rent, will not reap any benefits. The only predictable result of these attempts will be an endless chain in the redistribution of property and its further concentration.

Konstantin Sonin

Russian Statehood: Back to the Future

There are only a handful of people in Russia today who would take the trouble of studying the origins of the republican form of government in their country. Remarkably enough, Russia does not observe Republic Day, while the people are reluctant to scrutinize the nature of the state power now in effect. In the meantime, this subject necessarily becomes the focus of attention and a source of national pride in any country that can claim the legitimacy of its statehood.

Rethinking the New World Order

We can say with certainty that what we are witnessing today is a world disorder, to which almost all members of the international community are now contributing, together with numerous illegal networks and organizations. The world is slipping into chaos. The crisis within the system of international relations now seems obvious, and the only way of resolving it is to create an altogether new world order.

Vladislav Inozemtsev

Strategic Stability in a Globalized World

The international stability of the Cold War times, based on the principle of guaranteed mutual destruction by the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. in a nuclear conflict, is now a thing of the past. How can strategic stability be achieved now? And in general, how stable is a world order void of confrontation between the two superpowers?

Yuri Baluyevsky

International Monetary System: The End of Monocracy

Over the next ten to 15 years the dollar’s global hegemony will be a thing of the past. The core of the new international system will be constituted by 20-30 of the most important currencies, which will be integrated into a real-time settlements system based on new information technologies. This type of format change can radically improve the position of the Russian ruble and alter guidelines for a national monetary policy.

Whither Central Asia?

The road of Central Asia’s historic development has not been without problems, but as in the past, at this new turn it is sure to establish very special relations with Russia. The Central Asian countries simply will have no future if they do not cooperate closely with their old neighbor. However, Russia should also make moves to foster such cooperation. Centuries of practice have shown that only through our mutual efforts can we achieve the maximum effect.

Calling Up the Past

Terrorism and Islamic extremism cannot be defeated by military force alone. A victory must be won, above all, in the sphere of ideology, which will require reanimating the Cold War experience. The former enemies – Moscow and Washington – must pool their efforts and capabilities to combat their common enemy.

Islam’s Modernization: How Plausible Is It?

Medieval Europe admired the learning and wisdom of Muslim scholars. But as time passed, the concepts of creativity, rationalism and renewal were dropped from the Muslim vocabulary. Critical analytical thinking was forbidden. The taboo on new interpretations of the Koran ossified thought and society.

Rafael Khakimov

A Unique Entity of the Russian Federation

Despite the grave legacy of two wars which have divided the Chechen people, and despite the mixed reactions in the West to the recent elections in the Chechen Republic, the political process has begun in earnest there. This new stage of progress is based on the realization by the larger part of society that Chechnya’s separatist movement has failed.