WI: Russia Was the World's Most Powerful Country?

Let's say that Russia's economy climbs (at Chinese rates) while the West and US heads into a slow, prolonged recession. With the US military bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, its global reputation and worldwide hegemony has waned.

What does a new Russian superpower, and the rest of the world, look like?
 
Let's say that Russia's economy climbs (at Chinese rates) while the West and US heads into a slow, prolonged recession. With the US military bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, its global reputation and worldwide hegemony has waned.

What does a new Russian superpower, and the rest of the world, look like?

I don't know exactly, but this kind of thing normally calls for bears on uncycles.
 
Doesn't this goes to the future history section, considering that Iraq and Afghanistan is still ongoing?

Depends on whether we can work with a PoD sooner. Which this would probably require. Russia needs more labor and less political stagnation. Trends that require some time to reverse.
 
I don't know exactly, but this kind of thing normally calls for bears on uncycles.

I think I'm asking "What does a stronger Russia look like with a weaker US/Europe."

It's not too far from being true. Russia has a few major chess pieces on the board -- it has all sorts of energy assets and isn't afraid to use them as a political weapon. It has a strong, big military. It's a major exporter of steel and other goods of that nature. Putin's incredibly cagey. It already has the 8th biggest economy in the world. According to the CIA Factbook, its economy grew by 8% per year every year since 1998 until the downturn. Disposable income doubled.

So, WI Russia's economy continues to blossom while the US/West recedes? What does a stronger Russia act like?
 
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