Carnegie Moscow Center
Almost two decades after negotiations began Russia is set to join the World Trade Organization. Russia, the biggest country to enter the WTO since China joined ten years ago, is expected to be confirmed as a member during the ministerial meeting in mid-December.
The plans of Russia’s ruling elite, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, to retain power face increasing challenges from a crumbling infrastructure, economic stagnation, and growing social unrest.
Twenty years after the end of the Soviet Union, Russia lacks a responsible and accountable government and is missing a shared sense of nationhood.
The Arab revolts are pushing Western governments to reject a pragmatic approach to foreign relations in favor of support for democratic values and human rights, with potentially significant effects on Russia’s relations with the West.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s announcement of new initiatives for improving the investment climate in Russia and reducing corruption demonstrates his readiness to run for a second term.
The recent reset between Russia and the West is being used by Moscow as a tool for the legitimization and perpetuation of the Russian status-quo and hasn’t prevented the strengthening of repressive policies inside Russia.
Unlike in Russia, where organized crime persists in part because the government lacks the political will to enforce the law consistently, organized crime in the Caucasus has its roots in a larger cultural problem.
Russia’s GDP is expected to grow at low rates the next two years and the country's budgetary outlook remains uncertain, while recent riots and violence suggest that the country’s political situation is deteriorating.
Prominent blogger Alexey Navalny’s new site, RosPil.net, is helping to expose corruption in Russia. Economists estimate that stopping theft within the state procurement system could double Russia’s yearly economic growth rate.
At the 2010 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, President Medvedev appealed to investors to put their money into the Russian economy. However, corruption continues to kill investor interest in Russia.