Russia's ability to affect events in Europe through its political and military power and especially her nuclear arsenal. There is no single answer to the problems faced by Russia. It is weak right now. Russia needs help from the outside but only on a conditional basis. This is needed if the funds from abroad are to do anything except enrich the politically corrupt. One thing Russia has taught the world is that economic reform cannot happen in a circular economy. Russia also needs to improve other areas such as property rights, securities regulation, accounting practices, and bankruptcy procedures.Working out a good relationship with Russia over the past decade has been complicated by different opinions on how to best promote peace and security in Europe. Russia may not like the fact that NATO is expanding but the signing of the Founding Act in 1999 showed that they were willing to cooperate with everyone else. Cooperation may be the most important thing right now. Another sign of their cooperation was their assistance in the peacekeeping effort in Bosnia even if they did protest the air strikes. Russia will come around and I am certain that with time they will be able to get over their problems and move on. Perhaps they will become less and less involved in the happenings of the West. If this happens after the problems are solved, so what? For years the United States was content to leave itself out of the problems of the rest of the world except to trade. Perhaps Russia will follow the same course as the U.S. No one can be certain. One thing that can be certain is that Russia is a strong nation and if two world wars, the Communists, and "growing pains" cannot keep them down, then nothing can. Russia will succeed. Russia, my new Russia. BibliographyWebsitesDepartment of State Background Notes,www.state.gov/www/background_notes/russia_9810_bgn.htmlCIA World Factbook,www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.htmlFreed...
