The document discusses modern life in Russia and some challenges the country faces. It notes that corruption poses a real danger by potentially weakening the Russian state and threatening its control over resource-rich regions or nuclear weapons. Additionally, while the threat of returning to the Soviet Union is diminishing, internal weaknesses from corruption could cause Russia to fall under the control of undesirable regimes. The document also examines inequality in Russian society, with a small wealthy minority and millions struggling near poverty. Health and life expectancy statistics further illustrate the deep divisions in modern Russian life.
Russia Direct is an analytical outlet of Russia Beyond the Headlines launched in June 2013 with prominent visibility on Foreign Policy magazine’s website.
World's new superpower axis - Pakistan - China - RussiaOwayc Ehmod
World's new superpower axis - Relations between Pakistan - China - Russia. Detailed report on the relations between the new big three which will affect the geopolitics of the world
Russia Direct is an analytical outlet of Russia Beyond the Headlines launched in June 2013 with prominent visibility on Foreign Policy magazine’s website.
World's new superpower axis - Pakistan - China - RussiaOwayc Ehmod
World's new superpower axis - Relations between Pakistan - China - Russia. Detailed report on the relations between the new big three which will affect the geopolitics of the world
The Adelaide City Digital Hub is located at the Grote Street Library and aims to connect the community and city businesses with technology and the online world and get ready for the National Broadband Network (NBN).
The State Library of SA delivered two sessions at the Adelaide Digital Hub, social media explained and an introduction to Facebook.
This resource, compiled by Creating Excellence, contains case studies, tips, tools and contact details about localism in action. Includes:
> Participatory Budgeting
> Community Assets
> Community Led Planning
> Communities Taking the Lead.
http://www.creatingexcellence.org.uk/ceimages/Localism%20in%20Action%20Final.pdf
Presented at DIGITAL HUMANITIES AUSTRALASIA 2016: Working with Complexity, Hobart, Tasmania.
At some point in the future I am going to die. When this happens, I can donate my body to science but I’m currently unable to donate my data or even my metadata to research. I will present a scenario where an end of life service exists for people to donate their data.
Transitioning to Blended and Online Learning with Carolyn Jarmon, NCATPearson North America
This was part of a 45 minute webcast led by Carolyn Jarmon, Senior Associate of the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT) and hosted by Pearson Learning Solutions.
The topic of the discussion was making the transition to blended and online learning.
Pecha Kucha Night Adelaide Vol 13.
South Australia’s leaders in placemaking got together for a night of thought provoking reflection on Adelaide and South Australia’s past, present and visions for the future.
http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/adelaide/events/5423703cbfb6ff569e000001
Slide 1 – map and title
My name is Katie Hannan and I work at the State Library of South Australia as the Coordinator of Online Projects.
I love to tell stories.
Something that I love just as much as I love stories, are maps.
In story telling, maps do more than just give you context, they can help pirates find buried treasure and explorers document their journey from one side of a country to another.
Without maps we are lost....
Learning the Lessson - John Betty (Strategic Director for Development and Maj...South West Observatory
John Betty, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Strategic Director, spoke about how Local Investment Plans have been used to support the HCA’s work with his team, with a particular focus on Bath Riverside (a LIP priority for the West of England). This was part of the Homes and Communities Agency and the National Housing Federation held an event, Learning the Lessons from the Local Investment Plans
The Russian Revival There are two sides to everything in life. Rus.docxssusera34210
The Russian Revival There are two sides to everything in life. Russia is no exception. After nearly 20 years of turmoil that followed the fall of communism and chaotic transition to market economy, Russia is emerging as an economic power house; it is now one of the ten largest economies of the world. Since 2000, Russia’s annual economic growth averaged 7 percent. Since 2003, workers’ salaries have more than doubled. Russia has about $500 billion in foreign currency, a huge sum. In 2007 alone, foreign companies invested about $45 billion in Russia, reflecting their confidence in Russia’s present and future. The man who is largely responsible to Russia’s recent economic reemergence is Vladimir Putin, an ex-KGB spy who was Russia’s president, then prime minister, and now president again. Russia’s recent economic growth is fueled by its energy resources. Russia truly is an energy empire. A quarter of the world’s natural gas reserves are found in Russia. It also commands 17% of the world’s coal reserves and 6% of its oil. (And, very fortunately for Russia, the price of crude oil as of the summer of 2008 is more than $140 per barrel; it was less than $30 per barrel.) A Russian postal stamp testifies to the importance of energy resources, of which Russians are enormously proud. Life of Russians, of course, has irreversibly changed. For example, as TIME reports, “there are more billionaires [in Moscow] than in any other city on earth.” In Russia, it is estimated that there are “119,000 millionaires and 53 billionaires” One of the more obvious indicators of the changing economic life among Russians is how many automobiles are being sold. According to the Economist, a British magazine, in 2007, sales of new cars grew 36% by volume and 57% by value. By 2012 it is estimated that five million new cars will be sold in Russia, of which 90% will be foreign imports. Sudden riches are usually used to support banality and obscenity, and Russia, especially, Moscow, is no exception to this rule. The picture to the left is a view of a posh shopping mall near the Red Square in Moscow that carters to the rising middle class. To the right shows one of the most popular hangouts, a discotheque in Moscow where a regular cocktail costs about $25. This is truly a far cry from the Bolshevik days when the party declared (as shown in the poster below), “Either death to capitalism, or death under the heel of capitalism.” Russia’s economic resurgence has added more clout to Russia in international relations. According to one observer, “Russia is a huge, almost limitless, supplier of [natural] gas, and this makes it probably more powerful now than it was during the Cold War." Why not! Russia’s Gazprom, the world's largest gas producer and also the owner of what is arguably the globe's largest proven gas reserves provides a quarter of Europe's gas needs. Russia’s global clout was confirmed when the international community stayed on the sideline when Russia invaded the capital of ...
This is Sabina Ashurova's International Recruitment Project for the completion of the Business Achievement Awards. The country she chose was Russia. This document includes information on Russia's history, geography and wildlife, culture, politics, economy, business customs, etc.
The Adelaide City Digital Hub is located at the Grote Street Library and aims to connect the community and city businesses with technology and the online world and get ready for the National Broadband Network (NBN).
The State Library of SA delivered two sessions at the Adelaide Digital Hub, social media explained and an introduction to Facebook.
This resource, compiled by Creating Excellence, contains case studies, tips, tools and contact details about localism in action. Includes:
> Participatory Budgeting
> Community Assets
> Community Led Planning
> Communities Taking the Lead.
http://www.creatingexcellence.org.uk/ceimages/Localism%20in%20Action%20Final.pdf
Presented at DIGITAL HUMANITIES AUSTRALASIA 2016: Working with Complexity, Hobart, Tasmania.
At some point in the future I am going to die. When this happens, I can donate my body to science but I’m currently unable to donate my data or even my metadata to research. I will present a scenario where an end of life service exists for people to donate their data.
Transitioning to Blended and Online Learning with Carolyn Jarmon, NCATPearson North America
This was part of a 45 minute webcast led by Carolyn Jarmon, Senior Associate of the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT) and hosted by Pearson Learning Solutions.
The topic of the discussion was making the transition to blended and online learning.
Pecha Kucha Night Adelaide Vol 13.
South Australia’s leaders in placemaking got together for a night of thought provoking reflection on Adelaide and South Australia’s past, present and visions for the future.
http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/adelaide/events/5423703cbfb6ff569e000001
Slide 1 – map and title
My name is Katie Hannan and I work at the State Library of South Australia as the Coordinator of Online Projects.
I love to tell stories.
Something that I love just as much as I love stories, are maps.
In story telling, maps do more than just give you context, they can help pirates find buried treasure and explorers document their journey from one side of a country to another.
Without maps we are lost....
Learning the Lessson - John Betty (Strategic Director for Development and Maj...South West Observatory
John Betty, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Strategic Director, spoke about how Local Investment Plans have been used to support the HCA’s work with his team, with a particular focus on Bath Riverside (a LIP priority for the West of England). This was part of the Homes and Communities Agency and the National Housing Federation held an event, Learning the Lessons from the Local Investment Plans
The Russian Revival There are two sides to everything in life. Rus.docxssusera34210
The Russian Revival There are two sides to everything in life. Russia is no exception. After nearly 20 years of turmoil that followed the fall of communism and chaotic transition to market economy, Russia is emerging as an economic power house; it is now one of the ten largest economies of the world. Since 2000, Russia’s annual economic growth averaged 7 percent. Since 2003, workers’ salaries have more than doubled. Russia has about $500 billion in foreign currency, a huge sum. In 2007 alone, foreign companies invested about $45 billion in Russia, reflecting their confidence in Russia’s present and future. The man who is largely responsible to Russia’s recent economic reemergence is Vladimir Putin, an ex-KGB spy who was Russia’s president, then prime minister, and now president again. Russia’s recent economic growth is fueled by its energy resources. Russia truly is an energy empire. A quarter of the world’s natural gas reserves are found in Russia. It also commands 17% of the world’s coal reserves and 6% of its oil. (And, very fortunately for Russia, the price of crude oil as of the summer of 2008 is more than $140 per barrel; it was less than $30 per barrel.) A Russian postal stamp testifies to the importance of energy resources, of which Russians are enormously proud. Life of Russians, of course, has irreversibly changed. For example, as TIME reports, “there are more billionaires [in Moscow] than in any other city on earth.” In Russia, it is estimated that there are “119,000 millionaires and 53 billionaires” One of the more obvious indicators of the changing economic life among Russians is how many automobiles are being sold. According to the Economist, a British magazine, in 2007, sales of new cars grew 36% by volume and 57% by value. By 2012 it is estimated that five million new cars will be sold in Russia, of which 90% will be foreign imports. Sudden riches are usually used to support banality and obscenity, and Russia, especially, Moscow, is no exception to this rule. The picture to the left is a view of a posh shopping mall near the Red Square in Moscow that carters to the rising middle class. To the right shows one of the most popular hangouts, a discotheque in Moscow where a regular cocktail costs about $25. This is truly a far cry from the Bolshevik days when the party declared (as shown in the poster below), “Either death to capitalism, or death under the heel of capitalism.” Russia’s economic resurgence has added more clout to Russia in international relations. According to one observer, “Russia is a huge, almost limitless, supplier of [natural] gas, and this makes it probably more powerful now than it was during the Cold War." Why not! Russia’s Gazprom, the world's largest gas producer and also the owner of what is arguably the globe's largest proven gas reserves provides a quarter of Europe's gas needs. Russia’s global clout was confirmed when the international community stayed on the sideline when Russia invaded the capital of ...
This is Sabina Ashurova's International Recruitment Project for the completion of the Business Achievement Awards. The country she chose was Russia. This document includes information on Russia's history, geography and wildlife, culture, politics, economy, business customs, etc.
Intercultural Training Program For International Executives and Expatriate Managers : Working with Russians, how history,values and customs impact the way of doing business with Russians.
1CHAPTER 5 RUSSIARussiaBook ReferenceTerrill, R. J.EttaBenton28
1
CHAPTER 5: RUSSIA
Russia
Book Reference
Terrill, R. J. (2016). World criminal justice systems: A comparative survey. Routledge.
Concepts to Know
· Marxism–Leninism
· Mikhail Gorbachev
· Democratization
· Constitution of the Russian Federation
· President of the Russian Federation
· Federal Security Service (FSB)
· Propiska
· Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation
· Judicial Department
· Procuracy
· Defense Counsel
· Justices of the Peace
· Jury
· Material Definition of Crime
· Measures of Restraint
· Plea Bargaining
· Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
· Commission on Juvenile Affairs
Introduction
THE LONGEST-RUNNING social science experiment of the twentieth century officially ended on December 25, 1991, with the resignation of Mikhail Gorbachev as president of the Soviet Union. From the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 until Gorbachev’s resignation, the rulers of the Soviet Union had attempted to create a communist society that would be the envy of the world. Support for this goal was continual for more than 70 years, but the sense of purpose and direction began to unravel during the late 1980s. The principal cause for this shift in opinion was Gorbachev’s alternative rationale for achieving socialism. Although his ideas were a radical departure from some of the basic tenets of Leninism, Gorbachev generally favored implementing them incrementally. Nevertheless, disaffection with these ideas became quite pronounced among devoted communists, which led to the attempted coup of August 1991. This was followed by Gorbachev’s resignation and the formal dissolution of the country by year’s end.
The Soviet Union had been composed of 15 republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Byelorussia, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizistan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Russia, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Russia was not only the largest republic in terms of territory and population, but it also dominated the policies of the Soviet Union—so much so that the words Russian and Soviet were often used interchangeably when referring to the foreign and domestic policies of the Soviet Union. Today, Russia is the largest country in the world, almost twice the size of the United States. It encompasses more than 6.5 million square miles that stretch from Eastern Europe through the northern half of Asia. The population of about 139 million has become more urban over the past 50 years. In fact, it has reached about 80 percent of the population— almost an exact reversal of the urban and rural ratio at the time of the 1917 Revolution (see Figure 5.1).
Russia is a federation consisting of six categories of administrative units. These include 21 republics, nine territories, 46 provinces, two federal cities, one autonomous republic, and four autonomous regions. Among these administrative units, the republics have the greatest claim to self-government. Although Russians comprise more than 80 percent of the country’s population, there are some 126 national ...
Cultural Geography of Russia. The cultural geography of Russia, includes relationship with NATO since the fall of the USSR. This vast nation stretches from Europe to the Pacific Ocean.
In 2011, students Pavel G. and Kathy P. present on negative and positive stereotypes that Russians and Americans have of each other. Then they surveyed high school students across the globe to see if these perceptions hold true world-wide. Afterwards, they present the results and implications of these stereotypes.
Each of your responses must be no lessthan one paragraph.1. BaAlyciaGold776
Each of your responses must be no lessthan one paragraph.
1. Based on the theories discussed this week, which two (2) theories do you think bestexplains social inequality?
2. Which main points (from each theory you have chosen), do you think can best be used to explain inequality? Why do you like these theories over the other theories? Explain.
3. After reading the material for this week, to which social class do your really belong? Does your answer prior to reading differ after reading? Discuss what you have learned about social class and how this is determined.
Textbook Readings: Ch3 & Ch4
CHAPTER 3
Repeat Performance: Globalization through Time and Space
In the midst of the lively conversation, the elegant, 90-year-old woman said, “Please excuse me. There’s something I want to share with you.” A moment later she came back with a letter, which she had received at the turn of the twentieth century. The writer was a young Englishman she had met during a transatlantic voyage. He was explaining to his 15-year-old correspondent how exciting it was to be growing up in the nation whose empire stretched around the globe. “What’s particularly impressive,” he wrote, “is that in spite of our modest size, the magnificent phrase still rings true: ‘Rule, Britannia! Rule the waves.’ And that’s going to be the reality for centuries to come.” How strange it felt listening to the young man’s words while realizing that the world’s once dominant nation was now sharply reduced in the course of less than one slender lifetime.
Yes, he was wrong. In fact, as we see with modern world systems, once a nation attains dominance, it is on the brink of decline, and soon a repeat performance makes another nation dominant. In this chapter we examine the development and demise of world systems, which significantly affect citizens’ economic and political opportunities around the planet. Then the focus shifts to global social stratification, with distinctive differences between core nations and the less developed peripheral and semiperipheral countries. Throughout the chapter it is apparent that not only classes but nations themselves vary in access to capital resources. In particular, certain types of capital such as technology and education affect social inequality within countries. The final section indicates how the context of the global age impacts class groups, ranging from the wealthy to the poor.
First, however, it is necessary to place the global age in context.
THE RISE AND FALL OF WORLD SYSTEMS
The past 400 years of human history have featured three time periods in which a single country—Holland (the United Provinces) 1620–72, Great Britain 1815–73, and the United States 1945–67—established hegemony, a situation in which one nation has sufficient power and influence to impose its rules and goals globally in the economic, political, military, diplomatic, and even cultural realms (FineDictionary.com 2017; Wallerstein 1984, 38). The leaders of hegemonic powers pr ...
More from Joe Boisvert Adjunct Professor of History, Gulf Coast State College Encore Program, Director of Compassionate Care, Amherst First Baptist Church, NH, Stephen Minister, Instructor Noah's Ark, Panama City, Florida
Life as a colony of the Roman Empire. Complete Roman Domination of Egypt by the Roman exploitation makes Egypt a weak country. Eventually sees the rise of Christianity and then Islam.
Discussion of New Russian part Dictatorship part Democracy. Putin has ruled with firm hand but has improved the average life of Russian more access to consumer goods.
This is a continuous theme of invasion after invasion. There are intermittent periods when actual Egyptians are in control but mostly it is about occupation. If covers the occupation of Canaan and battles talked about in the Bible. The lecture describes conditions in Egypt under Persian rule.
This is the third lecture in a five year lecture series on Russian History. This lecture discussed the turnover in power from Gorbachev to Yelsin. It talks about Yelsin strong points and his problem areas and his place in History.
Discussion of difficulties in establishing dates in History especially in Civilizations before BC. The date we are trying to pin down is the date for the Exodus by Mosses and the Israelite's from Egypt. Part two of the lecture we will show and discuss the beautiful artwork of the New Kingdom.
Attempt to answer did the Cold War start the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Broad overview of the space race and major miles stones such as the first in space the first human in space and the trip to the moon.
More from Joe Boisvert Adjunct Professor of History, Gulf Coast State College Encore Program, Director of Compassionate Care, Amherst First Baptist Church, NH, Stephen Minister, Instructor Noah's Ark, Panama City, Florida (20)
Acetabularia Information For Class 9 .docxvaibhavrinwa19
Acetabularia acetabulum is a single-celled green alga that in its vegetative state is morphologically differentiated into a basal rhizoid and an axially elongated stalk, which bears whorls of branching hairs. The single diploid nucleus resides in the rhizoid.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Normal Labour/ Stages of Labour/ Mechanism of LabourWasim Ak
Normal labor is also termed spontaneous labor, defined as the natural physiological process through which the fetus, placenta, and membranes are expelled from the uterus through the birth canal at term (37 to 42 weeks
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
1. Class Six – Year Five – Fall 2012
Spring 2013
Life in Modern Russia
Adjunct Professor – Joe
Boisvert
Gulf Coast State College
Encore Program
2. Russia on Dangerous Course
• As long as corruption exists on the scale that it does in
Russia today, there is the real and present danger of
weakening the Russian state with many dangerous
potential outcomes.
• Those outcomes range losing control of Russia’s resource
rich eastern region to having Russia’s nuclear arsenal fall
in the hands of unsavory, rogue regimes.
• In other words, while the threat of reverting to Soviet
Union is diminishing with the graying dividing line, there
is a real possibility of losing Russia to something far more
pernicious because of internal Russian weakness. This is
crossing the dangerous red line.
3. Russian Mafia 2012
A World History
Documentary on The
Russian Mafia. Details
from the start of the
Russian Mafia till now. In
1995, from the start of
Russian Mafia over 3
million people were Killed
including Mafia gangs,
politician, Business men
and ever journalist who
figure them out
4. In 1994, Russia's Interior
Minister, Mikhail Yegorov,
estimated that the
number of organized
crime groups had grown
from 785 during
Gorbachev's reign to over
5,000. By 1996, the
number had grown to
almost 8,000. Today, no
one is really sure what the
number has grown to.
6. Here is just a simple comparison of prices
in Moscow and two other Russian cities as
of today:
• Real Estate in Moscow (center): new one-
room apartment is approximately
$1,400,000.00.
Real Estate in Moscow (suburbs): new one-
room apartment is approximately
$600,000.00.
Real Estate in Samara (center): new one-room
apartment is approximately $75,000.00.
Real Estate in Kazan (center): new one-room
apartment is approximately $60,000.00.
7. High Costs of Real Estate in Russian
Cities
• The city which has the most expensive
housing in Russia is its capital.
Actually, Moscow takes the 3rd place
among the cities that have the most
expensive real estate in the world.
Prices for accommodation in Moscow
suburbs are lower than in the center,
but still much higher than in the rest
of the country.
8. Deeply Divided Society
• Even a cursory examination of the social situation in
modern Russia reveals a deeply divided society. An array of
statistics documents the reality of two different worlds that
hardly come into contact with one another. One—the
world of wealth and luxury—is inhabited by an insignificant
minority. The other—the world of social decline and an
arduous struggle for life’s necessities—is inhabited by
millions upon millions.
• Figures showing the distribution of wealth reveal the
glaring nature of this social polarization. According to
government data, the incomes of the very richest members
of Russian society are 15 times those of the poorest—one
of the highest levels of social inequality to be found among
the world’s leading countries. In Moscow, this difference is
53-fold.
9. Below the poverty line
•
According to figures published by the World Bank at the
end of last year, 20 percent of the Russian population
lives below the poverty line, which is defined as a
monthly income of 1,000 rubles (less than 30 Euros, or
$38).
• The great majority of Russian families are teetering on
the edge of poverty. The World Bank has calculated that
an average decrease in income of 10 percent would
produce a 50 percent rise in the poverty rate. The
majority of the poor in Russia are to be found among
working families headed by adults with average technical
professional training, and in families with children
10. Average Income
• At the end of 2003, average monthly income was
calculated at 2,121 rubles (60 Euros/$77 a month),
with those who are employed receiving 2,300
rubles (65 Euros/$83) and pensioners receiving
1,600 rubles (45 Euros/$58). (range 58 to 830
• Those whose income falls below these levels are
defined as poor.
• A second category, those who are badly off, includes
families where per-capita income lies between
2,121 and 4,400 rubles (60-126 Euros/$77-$161). A
significant section of the population can be found in
these two categories. Family Range (77-161)
11. Die Early
• The average Russian man can
presently expect to live only to 58.
That means married women, on
average, are widowed for 15 years.
This is due both to women’s greater
life expectancy and to the younger
age at which women marry.
12. •
The wealthy end of the spectrum
Then there is the other Russia. It finds its personification in
figures like Roman Abramovich, governor of the remote
region of Chukotka (just across the Bering Strait from
Alaska) and owner of a controlling interest in the Russian
oil giant Sibneft.
• He is considered the richest man in Britain, where he now
resides. Two years ago, he acquired the English soccer club
Chelsea for an astronomical sum.
• Russia is ranked third in the world for the number of
billionaires, and thirteenth for having the largest
enterprises.
• Taken as a whole, the fortunes of Russia’s billionaires
amount to nearly half as much as the total value of the
largest Russian enterprises. By comparison, in the US, this
sum amounts to 6 percent.
13. Oil Executive Salaries
• The president of Lukoil gets $1.5
million. If the business achieves
certain goals, he enjoys a bonus
of $2.2 million. The vice president
gets $800,000 annually, with up
to $1.1 million in bonuses.
14. The “New Russians,”
• The “new Russians,” as they are sometimes called,
often live abroad, where they can be found in the
most expensive hotels, clubs and restaurants.
• They possess racehorses, yachts and mansions.
Practically every billionaire has his own yacht and
airplane.
• They particularly enjoy buying expensive antiques
and jewelry, as well as purchasing real estate in
the most expensive areas of Europe’s capitals. A
special attraction for them is London.
15. Skolkovo is a modern Russian center of
research and development and new
industrial zone,
23. What to Fear
• This fear is not principally founded in the economic or
even the military power that this RSU might assert
globally. The fear is founded in another important but
more subtle lessons from the Cold War: Namely, RSU
might once again become an ideological competitor
and attempt to thwart Western values of democracy
and capitalism.
Modern Russia is a good place. Russians today enjoy
the highest standards of living that they have ever
experienced. Consumer goods and food are plentiful;
barring the strain that rampant corruption puts on the
system, the current economic system is capitalistic.
There is also more political freedom and civic society
empowerment than ever before.
24. Averages do • However true these observations
may be, they are statements
Not Tell the Whole about "averages." For example,
imagine three people who on
Truth average earn $100,000 per year.
• We can imagine this to be a
happy group based on averages,
but we can easily imagine one of
those three earning $300,000 per
year while the other two are
abjectly poor and earn nothing.
The point is that averages
sometimes yield useful
information but often deceive.
So, while - on average - Russians
have better lives than ever
before, the situation is not
universally true for every
Russian.
25. Young Have Different • .
Ideas Than Old
Younger Russians either do not
know the Soviet Union or spent
so little time there that its
existence does not registry with
them meaningfully.
They are used to having open
access to good, seeing Bentleys
and BMWs cruise the streets,
and their peers become wealthy
international tennis stars by
virtue of their talent and work