Russia’s Influence In The Modern World

Russia: ‘The Great Bear’. A proud country that sees itself as invaluable to the rest
of the world and, since the fall of Communism in 1981, has seen a rise in its
influence amongst the modern powers.

Since the United Nations was founded after World War II in 1945, Russia has
been a permanent member, along with the United States, China, France and
England, thus giving it an authority, which it still maintains today. As this
position of power is still in place, it can be said that Russia’s political influential
standings haven’t changed.

Despite this, Russia’s economic influence has increased considerably over the
last twenty years, being labelled a ‘BRIC’ country of which the thesis stands that
Russia’s economic potential is such, that it could become one of the most
dominant countries by 2050, due to the fact that it is the worlds leading supplier
of raw materials due to it’s vast supplies of oil and natural gas. Russia exports
70% of all the oil it produces which results in the country owning 12% of global
oil exports.

As Communist Russia was not invited to be part of the G7 organisation, it has

since led the world in the expansion of G20 – incorporating itself and other
emerging developing countries into an organisation of the most economically
powerful countries in the world to cooperate and consult on international
financial matters. A position Russia would not have been able to take up twenty
years ago.

Where foreign relations are concerned, Russia is a member of the I.A.E.A

(International Atomic Energy Agency) and therefore seeks to promote the
peaceful use of nuclear energy and restrain it’s use for military purpose. Due to
this, Russia has taken a strategic interest in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran
concerning their oil and nuclear industries, offering to take responsibility for
them. This also benefits the rest of the world, as there is then no threat of nuclear
weapons being produced in these countries.

Russia’s international sporting influence has diminished only slightly in the last
twenty years, coming third in the 2008 and 2004, Olympic games second in 2000
and 1996 compared to coming first as part of the Unified Team in 1992 and first
as the Soviet Union in 1988. They have also submitted a bid to host the 2018 and
2022 FIFA World Cup against England and Spain.

Gold medals

Cultural Influence

Royal Family

Russian oligarchs