Introduction
The largest country in the world, Russia, is located in Europe and Asia. Its population as of 2023 is 141,698,923 people living on about 17.1 million square kilometers (CIA.gov). The population is represented by 77.7% Russians, Tatars (3.7%), Ukrainians (1.4%), Bashkirs (1.1%), and other ethnic groups.
Historical and Cultural Background
Russian statehood was founded in 862, with Rurik’s arrival to rule the country (Onion). During this time, the country went through stages of tsarism, monarchy, turmoil, empire, and the center of the Soviet Union, and only about thirty years ago, it became the Russian Federation. The country’s multinational history has produced many great people who have left their mark on history. This list includes, but is not limited to, Kandinsky, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Bulgakov, Tolstoy, Mendeleev, Pavlov, and several other iconic figures in the history of art and science.
Diversity is present not only on the cultural level: physically, the country is represented by steppes, forests, taiga, and the northern ice deserts. The country’s landscape includes the Caucasus and Ural Mountains, volcanoes, seas, and large lakes.
The political culture in Russia has gone through several stages and is currently represented by a presidential republic, the current president of which is Vladimir Putin (CIA.gov). The head of state is elected by popular vote for a six-year term. The Federal Assembly is a local congress consisting of an upper house (the Federation Council) and a lower house (the State Duma).
Mayors, governors, and other administrative bodies govern local levels of the Federation. The Russian economy is one of the largest in the world and is tied to the intensive export of natural resources. The country is the birthplace of precious metals, oil, gas, coal, timber, and significant natural resources exported worldwide.
Government, Economy, and Global Role
As one of the world’s superpowers and the largest country, Russia is deeply involved in globalization. One of the most apparent globalizing manifestations of Russian activity is the import and export of goods. According to O’Neill, Russia’s exports in 2022 amounted to $531.9 billion, while imports were about half that amount (“Export of Goods”) (“Import of Goods”). This indicates the high dependence of other countries on Russian production.
Adopting the globalization process at the level of the country’s leadership has ambiguous assessments. The high dependence of the country’s economy on exports and imports of goods is one of the main pillars of the federal budget. On the other hand, the legacy of the Soviet Union’s Iron Curtain policy generates the desire of the country’s elderly leadership to keep Russians from the influence of foreign cultures (Khandozhko 369).
Although Russia is currently a member of APEC and EAEU, BRICS, and CIS, and a permanent member of the UN with the right to veto, the organization of military conflict in Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 spoiled Russia’s relations with the world (Stronski and Sokolsky 4; Henretty 54). Before these events, Russia was an open country, organizing the Olympic Games and the World Cup, inviting foreign investors, and cooperating with Western countries. However, the outbreak of the military confrontation and the tightened sanctions policies strained these relations.
Globalization Challenges
The consequences of the worsening globalization processes include the isolation of Russian society, the withdrawal of global brands from the market, the prohibition of cultural integration, and the refusal to cooperate. Such policies can benefit Putin, who is trying to create a military dictatorship in the country (Henretty 8). Economically and culturally, the risks and losses of disrupting globalization outweigh the potential benefits.
Reduced foreign investment, declining exports and imports, regular cultural bans, and homophobia can be a blow to the well-being of Russian society (Jenkins). In the context of tolerance as a manifestation of the global cultural code, Russian authorities openly display homophobia, prohibit the display of any images and same-sex relationships, and persecute gay people (Henretty 5). The authorities address the positive consequences of such practices, namely preserving traditional family values (Henretty 35). However, on the level of negative consequences, LGBTQ+ representatives cannot feel safe in the country, which threatens the country’s tourist and humanitarian attractiveness, in addition, of course, to the safety of the citizens themselves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Russia is culturally and historically rich, with enormous technological and global growth potential. However, political leadership and a willful refusal to cooperate globally threaten the country’s potentially prosperous future.
Works Cited
CIA.gov. “Russia.” The World Factbook, 2023. Web.
Henretty, Victoria M. Vlast’i Vlist’Power and Influence: LGBT Violence in Chechnya and Activist Responses. 2022. Master Thesis. Digital Common Trinity University.
Jenkins, Brian Michael. “Consequences of the War in Ukraine: The Economic Fallout.” The RAND Blog, 2023. Web.
Khandozhko, Roman. “Quantum Tunneling through the Iron Curtain. The Soviet Nuclear City of Dubna as a Cold War Crossing Point.” Cahiers du Monde Russe. Russie-Empire Russe-Union Soviétique ET éTats Indépendants, vol. 60, no.2-3, 2019, pp. 369-396.
O’Neill, Aaron. “Export of Goods from Russia 2022.” Statista, 2023. Web.
O’Neill, Aaron. “Import of Goods to Russia 2022.” Statista, 2023. Web.
Onion, Amanda. “Russia: A Timeline.” History, 2019. Web.
Stronski, Paul, and Richard Sokolsky. “Multipolarity in Practice: Understanding Russia’s Engagement with Regional Institutions.” Carnegie Endowment, 2020. Web.