Part Two: Russia’s Strategy: A Course Toward Multipolarity
Chapter V: Official Doctrines and Concepts
Russia in the World Community
“The world community is defined by two trends: the trend toward multipolarity, which Russia will be aiding along, and the trend toward domination of the developed Western nations led by the USA.”
This assessment is deeply erroneous because the second “trend” is no trend at all, but an actual fact, and the first trend is simply not in evidence; there is no plurality of “poles” in sight beyond “the domination of Western nations.” China is shaping up to be a “pole,” but should it truly become one, the world will be bipolar rather than multipolar.
The concept’s authors state that Russia “continues objectively to play a large role in world processes due to its significant economic, scientific, technological, and military potential and its unique strategic position in the Eurasian continent.” This phrase is pure demagoguery; the fact is that Russia’s economic potential is smaller than that of Australia (population 20 million), or South Korea, or Mexico, or Brazil, etc. Its science and technology potential has been destroyed and is now inferior to that of any developed country; its military potential is insufficient even to guarantee security on Russia’s own territory, as in Chechnya. As for Russia’s geographical position on the “Eurasian continent,” it is merely a statement of geographical fact; it gives no grounds for pronouncements about the state’s greatness.
The document does express a concern: “At the same time, a number of states are stepping up their efforts intended to weaken Russia’s position in the political, economic, military, and other areas.” Which states are included in that number? USA? Germany? Japan? By the logic of the preceding passage about two trends, these are all “developed Western nations,” i.e., the very same nations from which Russia expects and actually receives economic and financial aid from time to time. How exactly are they “weakening” Russia’s position?
To sum up: “Russia and the world community” consists of nothing but claptrap and assessments that have nothing to do with the realities of international life.
The 21st Century: The World Without Russia
(Philosophical-sociological Essay)