Act on the formation of the All-Russian supreme power. Government bodies

With Russia, of course, is associated with immensity. The aspirations of almost all Russian rulers focused on the formation of Russia as an empire.

“Russia is a country that has a great influence on the past, present and future of the entire planet. This is one of the richest countries in the world, which contains the most important strategic resources: a large and educated population, advanced technologies and large mineral deposits, a vast territory with untouched ecosystem resources. It remains only to learn how to use these virtues effectively, preserve them and increase them.“
Encyclopedia for children. History of Russia 20th century.

Feeling messianic

Russia has always been convinced that it plays some important role among other peoples, that it has some great destiny.
In the Middle Ages, Russia perceived itself as the "shield" of Europe - protecting it from Asian invaders, which marked the beginning of the Russian tendency towards messianism.

“We can be said to be, in a certain way, an exceptional people. We belong to the number of those nations that, as it were, are not part of humanity, but exist only in order to give the world some important lesson. But who can say how many troubles we will experience before our destiny is fulfilled?
P.Ya.Chaadaev, Russian philosopher of the 19th century

Russia at the beginning of the 21st century - the contradictions of Russia

Since ancient times, Russians have been looking for answers to the “eternal Russian questions”: what is Russia and what kind of Russia do we need?

Already an outstanding Russian philosopher N.A. Berdyaev determined that Russia is contradictory, antonymous.

messianism - and backwardness

Russia is destined for something great, plays an extraordinary role among other nations, sometimes even considers itself the center of the world. Dostoevsky, according to Berdyaev, is not only a Russian person, this is the “all-man” and the spirit of Russia, this is the “universal spirit”
On the other hand, Russia has always lagged behind Europe, is in fact on the outskirts, somewhere far from everyone, and therefore forms “its own world”, perhaps quite independent.

Absence of the state - and red tape

The state has always come somehow from the outside, according to the Russians, the state is “they”, not “we”. Russia is a very anarchic country.
On the other hand, in reality, the free play of creative forces is virtually impossible, the personality of a person is suppressed.

Patriotism - and borrowing

The tendency to borrow from, imitate, and be inspired by other cultures.
On the other hand, to defend our own, to preserve our specificity, to maintain a sense of national pride.

Wealth and poverty

The narrow top of society, the city of Moscow, is rich, but the majority of the population of Russia are poor people; many regions are poor.

The presence of cutting-edge technology - and the lack of basic amenities

(Example: The city of Severodvinsk produced nuclear submarines, but people there lived in terrible slums and received only food stamps instead of a salary.)

Geopolitical position of the Russian Federation in the modern world, foreign policy

The collapse of the empire

During the 20th century Russia first expanded, and then lost its influence on many states of Europe and Asia (including Czechoslovakia).
With the collapse of the USSR, Russia experienced a major crisis. The country has lost many territories and geopolitical influence, and many analysts argue that this is only the first stage in the collapse of the empire. There are also forecasts that Russia will break up into several separate regions - now it is a country that includes areas that are very different from each other.
Citizens of the USSR considered their country the center of the world. At the end of the Cold War, it turned out that Russia, on the contrary, is a completely exhausted country, which in many areas lags behind its rivals. Faith collapsed that the Soviet people - the builder of a new, better society.
However, the dream of "Great Russia" has not lost its appeal to this day; the myth of the “country between three oceans” also lives on (although the dream of the revival of the New Great Russia, according to some Russian scientists, poses a threat: “Another lost generation is the final loss of face in the eyes of the world. Russia has exhausted the limit for experiments of this kind”) .

Modern Russia does not want to give up international influence, an important place in global politics, Russian politicians constantly argue that Russia should remain among the powers that make decisions on the organization of the world order.

Relations with neighboring states

In foreign policy, the Russian Federation distinguishes between countries of the near abroad (neighbors and former republics of the USSR) and countries of the far abroad.
The main platform that connected the former republics of the USSR was the organization CIS .

The CIS was originally formed by Belarus, Russia and Ukraine on December 8, 1991. The international organization included most of the former republics of the USSR, which declared their desire to maintain cooperation, especially in the economic, humanitarian, cultural fields (as V.V. Putin put it, the CIS was created for "civilized divorce").
One of the main unifying factors is low prices for gas and oil supplied by Russia to CIS partners.
In the middle of the first decade of the 21st century. The Commonwealth is going through a serious crisis, it is turning more into a "commonwealth". The member countries are “rushing” from under the political influence of Moscow, demonstrating a desire for the West (the “orange revolution” in Ukraine, the “rose revolution” in Georgia, the “tulip revolution” in Kyrgyzstan, Moldova).
The Russian Federation in response switches to market prices for gas.

Conflicts with neighboring countries

In 2005 - 2006 relations between the Russian Federation and some neighboring countries have escalated, which is considered to be a failure of Russian diplomacy: the gas crisis in Ukraine, the conflict with Georgia caused by the detention of Russian servicemen by Georgian special services on suspicion of espionage, which led to harsh retaliatory sanctions from Russia.

Annexation of Crimea 2014

The annexation of Crimea is explained by the Russian authorities as the inclusion in the Russian Federation of most of the territory of the Crimean peninsula (transferred to Ukraine in 1956) on the basis of the non-acceptance of the “forceful” change of Ukrainian power by the predominant Russian population of Crimea. The action took place in the presence of "groups of armed people", only later recognized soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

March 16 was held referendum on the status of Crimea, on the basis of the results of which the independent Republic of Crimea was unilaterally proclaimed, signing an agreement with Russia on joining the Russian Federation. Russia's actions in Crimea will not be accepted either Crimean Tatars, the indigenous population of the Crimea.

The geopolitical situation caused a sharp collapse of the Crimean companies and the budget, a decrease in the standard of living of the population, the cessation of deliveries of Electric Energy from the Ukrainian side, etc.

Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict since 2014

The change of power in Ukraine that occurred after the uprising "Euromaidan" in January-February 2014, provoked protests supported by Russia in the South-East of Ukraine. In April 2014, hostilities began between the armed forces of Ukraine and the military groups of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics and "volunteer" paramilitary groups.

Western states accused the Russian Federation of intervention in the conflict(the use of regular troops in the fighting on the side of the rebels, the supply of weapons, financial support). The Russian leadership has consistently denied accusations of participation in hostilities and arms supplies, stating that Russia is not a party to the confrontation. However, on March 1, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted an appeal to the Federation Council "on the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine." Wounded and dead Russian soldiers are returning from Ukraine.

The conflict is an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians, civilians, volunteers, military personnel died. 2.3 million refugees left the region. The most tragic event is the death of the passengers of the Boeing flight MH17, shot down in July 2014 over the conflict zone. There is a complete lack of law and order, violence, and infrastructure has been destroyed.

Goes information war, running propaganda from both sides. Trolls post ratings or misleading information on social media.

The conflict caused a wide international resonance and a significant range of diplomatic instruments was introduced (condemning resolutions, sanctions, banning certain Russian figures from entering the European Union and vice versa). European politicians have repeatedly tried to take measures for a ceasefire ("Minsk agreements" - the second took place in Minsk in February 2015.

The consequence of the war is, of course, the deterioration of the international geopolitical position of the Russian Federation. The conflict brought about a split not only in states, but also in families, personal and professional contacts, and road connections.

Claims of the West to the Russian Federation

The West (the European Union and the USA) reproach the Russian Federation mainly on the following points:

an attempt to annul the right of the former republics of the USSR to democratization and liberation from the geopolitical influence of the Russian Federation
war in Chechnya
support for pro-Russian separatist regions in the former Soviet republics (South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia, Transnistria in Moldova), Russian intervention in internal Georgian conflicts
the adoption of some non-democratic measures in the country (restriction of the free activities of non-governmental organizations, churches, the media)
use of oil and gas supplies as a tool of extortion, providing Russia with political influence in the world
cooperation with Iran in the field of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
support for the totalitarian regime in Belarus

The attitude of the West towards the Russian Federation sometimes captures the psychology of a besieged country, the myth that Russia remains alone in the whole world, “naked among wolves”.

Russia and the European Union

The Russian Federation and the European Union cannot agree with each other on the basis of mutual relations. The EU is unable to establish joint priorities of all EU member states in relation to the Russian Federation.

EU je aktér zvyklý na kompromisně vyjednaná řešení multikulturálního rázu. Rusko je klasický moderní stát, pro nějž jsou zásadními hodnotami suverenita a prosazování úzce vymezených národních zájmů.
Podceňování Ruska Unií a Unie Ruskem. Rusko se mezi obchodními partnery EU pohybuje až kolem 5. místa. Rusko, cenící si své vojenské moci jako posledního atributu supervelmocenského postavení, považuje EU za vojenského trpaslíka.

Petr Kratochvil: Česká republika a Rusko: how dál po rozšíření EU?

Russia's claims to the EU concern:

underestimation of Russia as an equal partner
unsettled issues of transportation of goods and passengers between the main territory of Russia and the Kaliningrad region
infringement of the rights of Russian-speaking minorities in Latvia and Estonia
attempts by the EU to resist the preservation of Russia's foreign policy influence in the post-Soviet space

Membership of the Russian Federation in international organizations

RF is a member of:

United Nations (United Nations)
OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe)
Council of Europe
CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)
CBSS (Council of the Baltic Sea States) is an economic organization
BSEC (Black Sea Economic Cooperation) - economic organization

RF is not a member of:

NATO (Russia has signed an agreement on military-economic cooperation and security issues with NATO.)
OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries; Russia cooperates with OPEC.)
WTO (Russia wants to join the WTO.)
G 8 ("Big Eight") - a club of industrialized countries of the world - Russia was excluded in 2014 after the withdrawal of Crimea and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis

Economy of Russia

Modern Russia is a developed industrial-agrarian country.
In the UN ranking of living standards, the Russian Federation has been in 65-75th place for several years in a row and tops the list of countries with an “average standard of living”.

The poor in Russia

25% of Russians are recognized as beggars.
Poor people in Russia are most often able-bodied residents of villages and small towns. There is a very high proportion of people living below the official poverty line among workers in education, culture and healthcare.

The development of the economy throughout the 20th century.

Even at the beginning of the 20th century. Russia was almost entirely an agrarian country. Then it became a country of giant enterprises. Russian economy during the 20th century. was subject to many experiments - from five-year plans and industrialization under Stalin to perestroika under Gorbachev and a sharp transition to the principles of a market economy under Yeltsin.

Reforms of the 90s 20th century

In the course of the reforms begun in the 1990s, a market economy was established, and the national economy of Russia became diversified; allowing different forms of ownership, organization and management. Reforms of the second half of the 90s. - this is mainly the introduction of a free exchange rate of the ruble against the US dollar, price liberalization, privatization.
On January 1, 1998, the denomination of money took place - 1000 rubles turned into one ruble. In the autumn of the same year, a new wave of economic crisis came.

Regional economy

The main economic zone of the Russian Federation corresponds to the main zone of settlement. It differs, firstly, in latitudinal zoning (raw materials are mined in the north, but very little) and, secondly, in Euro-Asian asymmetry (70% of the country's economic potential is concentrated in Europe).
The standard of living of the population, the amount of the subsistence minimum, the cost of products and services, as well as unemployment in each region are different.

The economic situation of the Russian Federation in the 21st century

Structure of the economy

The structure of the Russian economy is dominated by heavy industry, especially metallurgy, chemistry, engineering and energy. Russia is extremely rich in forest resources.
10 nuclear power plants have been built in Russia.
Main agricultural crops: cereals, sugar beets, sunflowers, potatoes, flax. Meat and dairy and meat and wool animal husbandry occupies over 60% of the gross agricultural output.

Three levels of technological excellence

Industries in which Russia has significant achievements:

space program

Technological direction in which Russia has world-class developments:

metallic (light, super-light alloys based on aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys) and non-metallic materials (rubber, plastics)

welding hardening technology

chemical technologies

composite ceramics

Export

50% of all foreign exchange resources entering the country are provided by the export of oil and gas.

Major gas producing companies: Gazprom (the largest corporation in Russia, the world leader in this industry; the state owns 50% plus 1 share of Gazprom), Lukoil, Sibneft.

Import

Russia has a high degree of dependence on the supply of grain, sugar, tea, coffee, meat, oil, medicines and consumer goods. Machinery and equipment are imported. In 2005, Russia's main trading partners among non-CIS countries were Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.

V.V. Putin's reforms - the first years of his reign

VV Putin struggled with the phenomena of the shadow economy and is trying to modernize the country. He simplified the payment of taxes, introduced free purchase and sale of land, reduced the number of ministries and officials. The largest enterprises (Gazprom) are in the hands of the state. The economy has grown by all indicators (for example, in the first four years of Putin's rule, the number of mobile phone owners has increased 30 times), new factories with foreign investment are springing up all over Russia. The Russian Federation wanted to achieve acceptance into the WTO. The economic standard of living of the people has undoubtedly risen.

World economic crisis of 2008 in Russia

The outbreak of the global economic crisis has not bypassed Russia.

Manifestations of the crisis:

collapse in the Russian stock market
ruble devaluation
decline in industrial production GDP, incomes of the population
rising unemployment.

The government's anti-crisis measures required significant spending. In May 2009, Russia's GDP fell by 11% compared to the same month last year. Exports for this month fell by 45% compared to May 2008. In March 2010, a World Bank report noted that the losses to the Russian economy were less than expected at the start of the crisis.

Crisis of 2015

Reasons for the crisis:

falling oil prices
economic sanctions against Russia (caused by the geopolitical situation, Russia-Ukraine conflict)
annexation of Crimea

Consequences of the crisis

The ruble has sharply lost its value., fell in price by more than 60%. Although the authorities claim that the sanctions have passed without a trace, the population can buy much less food with rubles. There was a massive outflow of capital from Russia.

Comparison:

Economic indicators 2007

GDP per capita: $9075
GDP growth: 8.1% (compared to the previous year)
Official inflation: 11.9%
Unemployment: 6.6%

Economic indicators 2015

GDP per capita: $25,636
GDP growth: - 4.1% (compared to the previous year)
Official inflation: 15.7%
Unemployment: 5.5%

Russia's achievements

Russia has a huge and traditional scientific and technical base. At present, spending on science is being reduced - academicians receive a salary much lower than "an ordinary clerk in a company with foreign participation."

World famous Russian scientists

D. I. Mendeleev (1834-1907)

Mendeleev is a world famous chemist who created the periodic table of chemical elements.

K. E. Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935)

Tsiolkovsky is considered the founder of modern astronautics. In his theoretical writings, he laid the foundations for the theory of rockets and liquid-propellant rocket engines.

Nobel Laureates

Nobel Prize Winners in Medicine and Physiology

I. P. Pavlov (1849-1936)

Pavlov received the award for his work in the field of digestion - conditioned reflexes.

I. I. Mechnikov (1845-1916)

Mechnikov was one of the founders of evolutionary embryology. The Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery of the first cell of the immune system.

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

A. D. Sakharov (in 1975)

Sakharov is an academician, one of the creators of the hydrogen bomb, a defender of rights and freedoms. He advocated an end to nuclear testing. He was exiled into exile, from where he was released and invited back to Moscow by Gorbachev.

M. S. Gorbachev (in 1990)

The first and last president of the USSR, with whom the elimination of missiles is associated, the end of the Cold War.

In chemistry, Russians have 2 Nobel Prizes, in physics - 4 (the invention of the laser), in economics - 3, in literature - 5.

Sport

Russian athletes, as a rule, achieve success in such disciplines as figure skating, hockey, gymnastics, chess (world champions Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik). In the Russian Federation, there is a well-thought-out system for training athletes from an early age.

Summer Olympic Games in Moscow 1980

The Olympics took place during the division of the world into the socialist East and the capitalist West. The games were boycotted by 64 countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan, Moscow became a showcase for socialist successes, and a conditionally ideal, but artificial world was created within the framework of the games.

Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014

XXII Winter Olympic Games, an international sporting event held from 7 to 23 February 2014 in the Russian city of Sochi. Talismans: white bear, leopard, hare. Maria Sharapova carried the Olympic flag to the stadium. After that, several more eminent Russian athletes carried the torch, and Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretyak lit the fire in the arena.

Today, in all countries of the world, such a state as Russia is known. For most Europeans, until recently, Russia was associated with the bear Mashka, Russian vodka and earflaps. Today, Russia is known as a rising power, strong and confident, with its own independent leader. Therefore, today Russia is associated with Putin, who clearly defined the priorities of the Russian state throughout the world. After the election of a new president, in my opinion, Putin remained the leader, and the newly elected it is very difficult to achieve the same success as the previous one.
The situation in which Russia found itself at the beginning of the 21st century is most often characterized by economists, political scientists and other specialists involved in the formation of public opinion as a time of extremes, polar opinions, death sentences, saving recipes.
Entire generations of futurists from politics and economics, heading centers, institutions, foundations, well-off enough to publish regular newspapers and full-color analytical journals, rushed to look for the “Russian way”.
Some suggest accepting the results of the Cold War, burying what binds us to the great past, accepting the model of the Western way of life and, finally, proceeding to the third world, recognizing our capitulation.
Others seek salvation in the choice of a new "strategic partner" - that "friend" who will rush to save and raise the "humiliated and trampled country" from its knees. As such a partner, someone new is chosen annually, rises to the shield and is exposed to the amusement of the world community.
Still others sincerely believe that only the awareness of oneself as a “great Eurasian power” can solve the problems that the country is facing.
The fourth ones propose to isolate themselves from the outside world, to develop on the basis of the idea of self-sufficiency, developing the thesis about the cold climate and the inferiority of our territory.
Etc.
The listed positions, oddly enough, are very similar to each other: they have nothing to do with reality.
Life is a composition so complex and multidimensional that it cannot be described only by graphs, theoretically calculated tables and polling percentages...
Russia has enemies.
They call it the "evil empire", "black hole", "a country without past and future", "eternal loser". It is useful to get to know your country through foreign news releases and publications in the foreign press ...
It cannot be said that no one cared about Russia throughout history. A lot of scenarios, doctrines, plans have been written and implemented. One enumeration what is worth: “Monroe Doctrine”, “Barbarossa Plan”, “Dulles Plan”, “Kissinger-Brzezinski Concept”… Speaking openly about hatred for Russia at the same time strengthens the political positions of the state. When they talk about dislike for the state, they talk about fear of this state.
They began to talk about Russia as a Great Power not just, but immediately. They began to speak since the time of Peter the Great, who cut through the “window to Europe” and adopted elements of culture, education and military art from the countries of Europe. Subsequently, a whole trend will appear that has captured the majority of enlightened minds discussing the need for these changes and borrowing culture from other countries. But it should be recognized that Russia has its own fleet, its own firm foreign policy and the status of a world power. His followers in the person of Catherine II, Alexander I, Nicholas I, Alexander II, Alexander III, to one degree or another, sought to maintain this status with reforms, foreign policy and the desire to maintain peace. Probably not everything was so rosy and successful for each of the rulers.
Under the reign of Nicholas II, we, again, cannot talk about the complete decline of the statehood of Russia, and the loss of the status of a Great Power. During this period, production, education, and science are actively developing. And, in essence, at a faster pace than the first 20 years after the revolution!
Education of the USSR. Today, more and more people talk about the USSR as a negative factor in relation to Russia. Like, the "Iron Curtain", people did not know what Europe is.
A is not it was it that bad? Or is it a political ploy?
It is not for us to judge that time and those political measures, but we should draw conclusions and take it into account so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
But it was during the times of the USSR that Russia became a great space power, a powerful military power, with a high scientific and educational level, original formed culture.
The collapse of the USSR. Perestroika.
Every historical moment has its positive and negative qualities. Perestroika has too many negative and negative qualities that affected the development of Russia, her identity, its culture, its development, the attitude of other countries towards the once Great State.
Ill-considered, unplanned actions for many years did not make it possible to get out with dignity to the international arena. Then it was proclaimed that Russia was freed from the shackles of the Communist Party and now it is certainly a Great Power, which it should be. But, as I understand it, a Great Power is, among other things:

high cultural values of society;
high level of education;
support for sports and high sports achievements;
competent social policy.
It was during this period of time that none of the signs were noted. Russia was swallowed up by greedy politicians, officials, bureaucracy, banal mass theft, in the end. And the presence of a leader who evoked in everyone only a bitter contemptuous grin (B.N. Yeltsin).
The turning point for Russia was the arrival of a new energetic leader - V.V. Putin. With new attitudes and views on the structure of the state in which he lives, his relatives and friends. With the understanding that Russia needs fundamental changes, but which cannot be implemented overnight.
Putin's team was not dissolved after the election of a new president and did not abandon its goal.
What is, according to the Russians, a great power?
According to the results of mass surveys, there are three main features:
high standard of living of citizens - 43%;
developed economy - 40.3%;
powerful army (39%).

Abstract on the topic

Is Russia a Great Power?

Essence of Great Power

A great power rests on three "pillars" - on a united nation, on the native faith, on the native language. Remove one of these components and soon you will see the death of even a very strong state. (Sergey Fetisov)

In the encyclopedic dictionary of Brockhaus F.A. and Efron I.A. the term great power is reflected as follows: "Great Powers, a term adopted to designate the most powerful states playing a leading role in the international arena."

A great power is a country that has a huge impact on the regional or world system. Its status cannot be determined solely by such economic indicators as gross domestic product, purchasing power parity or GDP per capita. Even when a country suffers from poverty or isolation, its natural power, due to its territory, population and culture, still energizes the outside world.

In view of the nature of the politics of the great powers, it seems appropriate to outline a number of principles. First, these powers deserve to be treated with respect, because they cannot be ignored - their every move affects the international order. Secondly, in relations with them, one should not overstep the bounds: one should not try to destroy the internal order of these countries, hope that they will fall apart, and also one should not try to drive them into a corner, since this will inevitably lead to chaos or violence, as well as suffering. all parties involved. And finally, they must be encouraged to honor their commitments in the international arena - in the world village, where interconnections are growing stronger every day, the great powers have even more responsibility.

Since the Congress of Vienna, five European states have been called great powers: Austria (later Austria-Hungary), Great Britain, Prussia (later Germany), Russia and France. These countries, predominantly through mutual agreements, led the political life of Europe.

Since 1870, Italy has become one of the great powers. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States of America and Japan began to be ranked among the extra-European great powers.

After the Second World War, the permanent members of the UN Security Council began to be considered great powers: the USSR, the USA, Great Britain, France and China. These same powers gained additional influence through the possession of nuclear weapons. The Charter of the United Nations places the primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and global security on the great powers. Today, the need for a reform of the UN Security Council is being actively discussed. Germany, Japan, India, Brazil and South Africa are seen as the most likely candidates for permanent membership in the enlarged Security Council.

The formation of the Russian state

The situation in which Russia found itself at the beginning of the 21st century is most often characterized by economists, political scientists and other specialists involved in the formation of public opinion as a time of extremes, polar opinions, death sentences, saving recipes.

Entire generations of futurists from politics and economics, heading centers, institutions, foundations, well-off enough to publish regular newspapers and full-color analytical journals, rushed to look for the "Russian way".

Some suggest accepting the results of the Cold War, burying what binds us to the great past, accepting the model of the Western way of life and, finally, proceeding to the third world, recognizing our capitulation.

Others seek salvation in the choice of a new "strategic partner" - that "friend" who will rush to save and raise "a humiliated and trampled country" from its knees. As such a partner, someone new is chosen annually, rises to the shield and is exposed to the amusement of the world community.

Still others sincerely believe that only the awareness of oneself as a "great Eurasian power" is capable of solving the problems that the country is facing.

The fourth ones propose to isolate themselves from the outside world, to develop on the basis of the idea of self-sufficiency, developing the thesis about the cold climate and the inferiority of our territory.

The listed positions, oddly enough, are very similar to each other: they have nothing to do with reality.

Life is a composition so complex and multidimensional that it cannot be described only by graphs, theoretically calculated tables and polling percentages...

Russia has enemies.

They call it an "evil empire", a "black hole", "a country without a past and a future", "an eternal loser". It is useful to get to know your country through foreign news releases and publications in the foreign press ...

It cannot be said that no one cared about Russia throughout history. A lot of scenarios, doctrines, plans have been written and implemented. One enumeration of what is worth: "Monroe Doctrine", "Barbarossa Plan", "Dulles Plan", "Kissinger-Brzezinski Concept" ... Speaking openly about hatred for Russia at the same time strengthens the political positions of the state. When they talk about dislike for the state, they talk about fear of this state.

They began to talk about Russia as a Great Power not just, but immediately. They began to speak since the time of Peter the Great, who opened a "window to Europe" and adopted elements of culture, education and military art from the countries of Europe. Subsequently, a whole trend will appear that has captured the majority of enlightened minds discussing the need for these changes and borrowing culture from other countries. But it should be recognized that Russia has its own fleet, its own firm foreign policy and the status of a world power. His followers in the person of Catherine II, Alexander I, Nicholas I, Alexander II, Alexander III, to one degree or another, sought to maintain this status with reforms, foreign policy and the desire to maintain peace. Probably not everything was so rosy and successful for each of the rulers.

Under the reign of Nicholas II, we, again, cannot talk about the complete decline of the statehood of Russia, and the loss of the status of a Great Power. During this period, production, education, and science are actively developing. And, in essence, at a faster pace than the first 20 years after the revolution!

Education of the USSR. Today, more and more people talk about the USSR as a negative factor in relation to Russia. Like, "Iron Curtain", people did not know what Europe is.

Was it really that bad? Or is it a political ploy?

It is not for us, young people, to judge that time and those political measures, but we should draw conclusions and take it into account so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

But it was during the times of the USSR that Russia became a great space power, a powerful military power, with a high scientific and educational level, and an original, formed culture.

The collapse of the USSR. Perestroika.

Every historical moment has its positive and negative qualities. Perestroika has too many negative and negative qualities that have affected the development of Russia, its identity, its culture, its development, and the attitude of other countries towards the once Great State.

Ill-considered, unplanned actions for many years did not make it possible to adequately enter the international arena. Then it was proclaimed that Russia was freed from the shackles of the Communist Party and now it is certainly a Great Power, which it should be. But, as I understand it, the Great Power is:

high cultural values of society;

high level of education;

support for sports and high sports achievements;

competent social policy.

It was during this period of time that none of the signs were noted. Russia was swallowed up by greedy politicians, bureaucracy, bureaucracy, theft in the end. And the presence of a leader who evoked only a bitter contemptuous grin (B.N. Yeltsin).

The turning point for Russia was the arrival of a new energetic leader - V.V. Putin. With new attitudes and views on the structure of the state in which he lives, his relatives and friends. With the understanding that Russia needs fundamental changes, but which cannot be implemented overnight.

And today D.A. Medvedev is considered to be this leader, but Putin’s team was not disbanded and did not abandon its goal.

What is, according to the Russians, a great power?

There are three main features:

high standard of living of citizens - 43%;

developed economy – 40.3%;

Table 1

Respondents' opinion about the signs of a great power (as a percentage of the total number of respondents who answered the question, it was possible to choose several answers)

Sample average	Altai region	Republic of Bashkortostan	Volgograd region	Vologodskaya Oblast	Kaliningrad region	Kaluga region	Primorsky Krai
Population	13.5	10.6	10.5	15.8	6.1	27.5	9.7	14.0
Territory size	19.5	17.5	12.8	18.9	11.2	23.1	27.4	25.8
Powerful army	38.8	39.7	28.2	42.1	34.6	45.8	35.5	45.3
Developed economy	40.3	43.3	48.2	41.8	37.4	32.4	39.5	39.8
High standard of living of citizens	43.2	43.8	41.0	47.4	54.2	36.5	30.5	48.3
Rich natural resources	22.2	23.3	22.8	19.9	19.3	15.7	26.6	27.5
Strong centralized authority	13.8	12.2	14.6	14.3	22.1	14.7	7.6	11.3
Broad democratic rights and freedoms	10.9	12.9	7.9	12.8	12.2	12.6	7.4	10.5
Glorious heroic past	15.3	18.0	16.9	14.5	13.0	14.9	18.2	11.5
Cultural traditions, advanced science	17.3	24.3	17.9	15.3	23.2	12.9	12.9	14.8
Respect from other states	22.7	26.3	22.8	21.4	20.6	21.6	21.8	24.0
Answered the question, man.	2740	395	390	392	393	389	380	400

Moreover, residents of all regions are in solidarity in assessing the primacy of these features. It should be noted that only Kaliningraders put the power of the army in the first place (46%). In all other regions, the first place is given to either a high standard of living of citizens (Vologda Oblast - 54%, Primorsky Krai - 48%, Volgograd Oblast 47%, Altai Krai - 44%), or a developed economy (Bashkortostan - 48%, Kaluga Oblast - 39.5 %).

How adequately Russians assess the status of their country. 68% of Russians consider our country a great power. These are the latest data from the Levada Center poll.

For comparison, in 1999 only 31% of the respondents held this opinion. And if we compare with more recent times, the growth of the "great powers" is quite significant. In 2011, for example, only 51% of Russians were of the opinion that Russia is a great country.

Meanwhile, until recently, the topic of the collapse of Russia was actively discussed, we still remain a country heavily dependent on the export of raw materials. The list of Russia's "weak points" can be continued. So how adequate are the majority of Russians in assessing the status of their country?

I believe that people adequately assess the role of Russia in the modern world, - says publicist, philosopher Viktor Aksyuchits. If we weren't a great country, the collective West wouldn't try so hard to limit our influence on the world stage.

Russia, in the opinion of the United States and its allies, is not just a competing, but also a dangerous power for them. Firstly, only Russia is capable of destroying the countries of the West, if they decide to attack it. Even China cannot yet compete in terms of nuclear weapons with the United States.

In addition, Russia has the world's largest territory with vast natural resources. And not only those that are in demand now, but also those whose importance will grow over time. For example, we have a lot of renewable resources - forest and water. We have access to several oceans.

It is impossible not to take into account the thousand-year-old culture of Russia, which in many respects is simply unsurpassed.

Russia has another feature that makes it great. After the most difficult trials and disasters, we are able to quickly restore our potential.

"SP": - It is often said that we have become a raw materials appendage of developed countries, we have a low standard of living ...

Yes, all this is happening. According to these indicators, we cannot rank ourselves among the great powers. But after all, no country in the world can be great in all respects. But I want to note that many of our problems stem from the upheavals that the country has had to endure over the past century. I note that Germany, which lay in ruins after the Second World War, the United States helped to raise the economy. Not only did no one help Russia after the collapse of the USSR, on the contrary, everyone attacked us, trying to weaken Russia as much as possible. Nevertheless, today we are again able to resist the West.

In addition, the industrial backwardness of Russia is greatly exaggerated by the liberal public. Our industry and medium business are actively developing. Another thing is that the liberal wing of the financial and economic bloc in the Russian government is doing everything to slow down this process.

Other "SP" experts were more restrained in their assessments.

The very concept of "great power" is very diverse, - says Sergei Vasiltsov, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, director of the Center for the Study of Political Culture of Russia. – Especially for people far from politics. In such assessments, there is usually a lot not of specific data reflecting the state of the economy, culture, army, etc., but of emotions and public moods.

If we turn to statistics, to what can be calculated and weighed, we will see that it is still difficult to claim the role of a great power in modern Russia. Too much was lost in the 90s. Over the past 25 years since the collapse of the USSR, our economy has slumped in many sectors.

Our army has not been fully restored, the level of social problems is also very high.

Look, the faction of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, in those difficult conditions in which the majority of the country's population found itself, tried again to raise the question of introducing a progressive tax so that the rich would at least help the poor survive a little. This proposal once again did not pass in the State Duma of the Russian Federation. But this kind of tax differentiation exists in the United States, and in Germany, and in France. Even according to this indicator, we cannot, “straightening our shoulders”, say about ourselves that we are a great power, with which other countries should take an example.

"SP": - Why do the majority of Russians think otherwise?

As for public sentiment, everything is clear. Reunification with Crimea is Russia's first truly serious step in the foreign policy arena, which has added authority to the country. Russia did not retreat at the decisive moment under pressure from the West, which has not happened for a quarter of a century.

But there is one rather dangerous thing here. In connection with the return of Crimea, a “revolution of expectations” arose in Russia. Many citizens seriously believed that great changes for the better would take place in the country. That we will throw all our efforts into the development of industry, put things in order in the social sphere, and so on. If everything turns out exactly the opposite, then hopes turn into disappointment. And the situation with Novorossiya shows that Russia in the foreign policy sphere is far from acting as decisively as expected of it. Because of our dual position, we were drawn into a long-term, apparently, war.

In general, we are now in a borderline state, when it is possible to follow the path of turning Russia into a great power, or in the opposite direction.

I think that Russians are convinced of the greatness of Russia mainly thanks to the central television channels, - says Pavel Salin, director of the Center for Political Science Research at the Financial University. - Russian television has been constantly emphasizing the line of confrontation - Russia-West, Russia-USA.

Thus, it is shown that Russia alone opposes the world hegemon, and, therefore, it decisively influences world politics. In fact, the problems that Russia has been solving for the past year are more of a regional nature. That's when there was a situation around Crimea, and Russia acted as only the United States could afford to do before, then the world really closely followed our country. She set new rules of the game at the global level. But as soon as it became clear that the conflict in Donbass would not receive a quick and unambiguous resolution, the world community, with the exception of the United States and several Western European countries, lost interest in this situation. Because there are many such regional conflicts all over the world.

Therefore, in recent months, Russia has been acting more like a regional power, exerting a serious influence on Eastern and Central Europe.

"SP": - In addition to confronting the West, does our country have reasons to consider itself a great world power?

If we talk about a great power in the sense of a superpower, which was the USSR, then Russia cannot now claim this status. Our level now in all respects is that of a regional power.

It is characteristic that, according to the Levada Center survey, the number of those Russians for whom the standard of living in the country is in the first place almost equaled the number of those for whom the status of the country in the international arena is more important. Gradually, there is a switch from the "Crimean euphoria" to the solution of their daily internal problems.

Alexey Verkhoyantsev

The formation of the Russian Empire happened on October 22, 1721, according to the old style, or on November 2. It was on this day that the last Russian Tsar, Peter the Great, declared himself Emperor of Russia. This happened as one of the consequences of the northern war, after which the Senate asked Peter 1 to accept the title of Emperor of the country. The state received the name "Russian Empire". Its capital was the city of St. Petersburg. For all the time, the capital was transferred to Moscow only for 2 years (from 1728 to 1730).

Territory of the Russian Empire

Considering the history of Russia of that era, it must be remembered that at the time of the formation of the empire, large territories were annexed to the country. This became possible thanks to the successful foreign policy of the country, which was led by Peter 1. He created a new history, a history that returned Russia to the ranks of world leaders and powers whose opinion should be reckoned with.

The territory of the Russian Empire was 21.8 million km2. It was the second largest country in the world. In the first place was the British Empire with its numerous colonies. Most of them have retained their status to this day. The first laws of the country divided its territory into 8 provinces, each of which was controlled by a governor. He had full local authority, including the judiciary. Later, Catherine 2 increased the number of provinces to 50. Of course, this was done not by annexing new lands, but by crushing them. This greatly increased the state apparatus and rather significantly reduced the effectiveness of local government in the country. We will talk about this in more detail in the corresponding article. It should be noted that at the time of the collapse of the Russian Empire, its territory consisted of 78 provinces. The largest cities in the country were:

Saint Petersburg.
Moscow.
Warsaw.
Odessa.
Lodz.
Riga.
Kiev.
Kharkov.
Tiflis.
Tashkent.

The history of the Russian Empire is full of both bright and negative moments. In this time period, which lasted less than two centuries, a huge number of fateful moments were invested in the fate of our country. It was during the period of the Russian Empire that the Patriotic War, campaigns in the Caucasus, campaigns in India, European campaigns took place. The country developed dynamically. The reforms affected absolutely all aspects of life. It was the history of the Russian Empire that gave our country great commanders, whose names are on the lips to this day not only in Russia, but throughout Europe - Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov and Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. These illustrious generals forever inscribed their names in the history of our country and covered Russian weapons with eternal glory.

Map

We present a map of the Russian Empire, a brief history of which we are considering, which shows the European part of the country with all the changes that have occurred in terms of territories over the years of the existence of the state.

Population

By the end of the 18th century, the Russian Empire was the largest country in the world in terms of area. Its scale was such that the messenger, who was sent to all corners of the country to report the death of Catherine 2, arrived in Kamchatka after 3 months! And this despite the fact that the messenger rode almost 200 km daily.

Russia was also the most populous country. In 1800, about 40 million people lived in the Russian Empire, most of them in the European part of the country. A little less than 3 million lived beyond the Urals. The national composition of the country was motley:

East Slavs. Russians (Great Russians), Ukrainians (Little Russians), Belarusians. For a long time, almost until the very end of the Empire, it was considered a single people.
Estonians, Latvians, Latvians and Germans lived in the Baltics.
Finno-Ugric (Mordovians, Karelians, Udmurts, etc.), Altai (Kalmyks) and Turkic (Bashkirs, Tatars, etc.) peoples.
The peoples of Siberia and the Far East (Yakuts, Evens, Buryats, Chukchi, etc.).

In the course of the formation of the country, part of the Kazakhs and Jews who lived on the territory of Poland, who, after its collapse, went to Russia, turned out to be its citizenship.

The main class in the country were peasants (about 90%). Other classes: philistinism (4%), merchants (1%), and the remaining 5% of the population were distributed among the Cossacks, the clergy and the nobility. This is the classic structure of an agrarian society. Indeed, the main occupation of the Russian Empire was agriculture. It is no coincidence that all the indicators that lovers of the tsarist regime are so proud of today are related to agriculture (we are talking about the import of grain and butter).

By the end of the 19th century, 128.9 million people lived in Russia, of which 16 million lived in cities, and the rest in villages.

Political system

The Russian Empire was autocratic in the form of its government, where all power was concentrated in the hands of one person - the emperor, who was often called, in the old manner, the king. Peter 1 laid down in the laws of Russia precisely the unlimited power of the monarch, which ensured the autocracy. Simultaneously with the state, the autocrat actually controlled the church.

An important point - after the reign of Paul 1, autocracy in Russia could no longer be called absolute. This happened due to the fact that Paul 1 issued a decree that canceled the system for the transfer of the throne, established by Peter 1. Peter Alekseevich Romanov, let me remind you, decided that the ruler himself determines his successor. Some historians today speak of the negative of this document, but this is precisely the essence of autocracy - the ruler makes all decisions, including about his successor. After Paul 1, the system returned, in which the son inherits the throne after his father.

Rulers of the country

Below is a list of all the rulers of the Russian Empire during the period of its existence (1721-1917).

Rulers of the Russian Empire

Emperor	Years of government
Peter 1	1721-1725
Catherine 1	1725-1727
Peter 2	1727-1730
Anna Ioannovna	1730-1740
Ivan 6	1740-1741
Elizabeth 1	1741-1762
Peter 3	1762
Catherine 2	1762-1796
Pavel 1	1796-1801
Alexander 1	1801-1825
Nicholas 1	1825-1855
Alexander 2	1855-1881
Alexander 3	1881-1894
Nicholas 2	1894-1917

All the rulers were from the Romanov dynasty, and after the overthrow of Nicholas 2 and the murder of himself and his family by the Bolsheviks, the dynasty was interrupted, and the Russian Empire ceased to exist, changing the form of statehood to the USSR.

Main dates

During its existence, and this is almost 200 years, the Russian Empire has experienced many important moments and events that have had an impact on the state and people.

1722 - Table of ranks
1799 - Suvorov's foreign campaigns in Italy and Switzerland
1809 - Accession of Finland
1812 - Patriotic War
1817-1864 - Caucasian War
1825 (December 14) - Decembrist uprising
1867 Sale of Alaska
1881 (March 1) the murder of Alexander 2
1905 (January 9) - Bloody Sunday
1914-1918 - World War I
1917 - February and October revolutions

End of the Empire

The history of the Russian Empire ended on September 1, 1917, according to the old style. It was on this day that the Republic was proclaimed. This was proclaimed by Kerensky, who by law did not have the right to do so, so declaring Russia a Republic can safely be called illegal. Only the Constituent Assembly had the authority to make such a declaration. The fall of the Russian Empire is closely connected with the history of its last emperor, Nicholas 2. This emperor had all the qualities of a worthy person, but had an indecisive character. It was because of this that the riots occurred in the country that cost Nicholas himself 2 lives, and the Russian Empire - existence. Nicholas 2 failed to severely suppress the revolutionary and terrorist activities of the Bolsheviks in the country. True, there were objective reasons for this. Chief among which, the First World War, in which the Russian Empire was involved and exhausted in it. The Russian Empire was replaced by a new type of state structure of the country - the USSR.