Russia is nowhere near a superpower – Swedish economist

[Homo Sapiens]

Russia is nowhere near a superpower – Swedish economist

Politics
Sunday 05 april, 2015, 11:52

Russia is nowhere near a superpower – Swedish economist
The arguments that, as a superpower, Russia can have some geopolitical claims on Ukraine, hold no water, a renowned Swedish economist and Peterson World Economy Institute researcher, Anders Aslund says, Novy region reports Apr. 5.

Russia’s GDP is merely 2.9% of the world one and 6% of those of NATO countries.


Russia’s defense budget is 10 times lower than that of the NATO countries, Aslund points out.

“Why should Russia be allowed to place itself above the law even if it doesn’t qualify for a superpower?” Aslund asks the proponents of Russia’s “special geopolitical role.”

The expert also questions the assumption that Vladimir Putin bases his decisions on rational grounds.


“Putin is wrapped up in the belief that US special services are behind all revolutions in the world. Accordingly, Ukrainians could not have toppled the corrupt Yanukovych regime on their own.


It takes a complete paranoic to think so, the expert concludes.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

economists have never let mere facts get in the way of speculation.

 

[Dalit]

I've never heard Russia claim that they are a superpower.

 

[Screambowl]

That's why they annexed crimea and the super power sweden will plan actions.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

“Why should Russia be allowed to place itself above the law even if it doesn’t qualify for a superpower?” Aslund asks the proponents of Russia’s “special geopolitical role.”

So the USA (and thus NATO) can put itself above the law (invasion of Iraq) because they are a superpower.

But Russia can't take Crimea because they are not a superpower?

So how come Russia took Crimea, and no one was able to stop them?

 

[doppelganger]

So the USA (and thus NATO) can put itself above the law (invasion of Iraq) because they are a superpower.

But Russia can't take Crimea because they are not a superpower?

So how come Russia took Crimea, and no one was able to stop them?

Western drivel.

Russia was waiting for someone from Sweden for ratification of its superpower status.

Point of fact. As long as Russia remains the only nation on earth that can obliterate the United States, it will continue to share superpower status.

And that is not going to change in the distant future.

 

[The BrOkEn HeArT]

Russia has massive nukes that can turn the whole world into useless crap. So Russia is a super power indeed. Doesn't matter for them what Swedish thinks.

 

[Kolaps]

Russia is a very unrealistic in the geopolitical situation.

It just a matter of time before Russia became an isolated country.

Backwater and Bankrupt.

 

[lasttry]

yea right, maybe sweden is the super power ...

russia is the largest country in the world with the most resources for any nation and the largest nuke stockpile. the west needs to stop eyeing russian assets and give up trying to create an artificial enemy. more than half of erstwhile soviet states are considering reunification and these turds keep thinking their propaganda will work.

 

[Hasbara Buster]

Sweden, a tiny voiceless puppet state of Washington.

 

[tsinga]

So the USA (and thus NATO) can put itself above the law (invasion of Iraq) because they are a superpower.

But Russia can't take Crimea because they are not a superpower?

So how come Russia took Crimea, and no one was able to stop them?

While I agree with this statement that no one was able to stop them, their economy is indeed taking a massive hit. The question is how long can Russia sustain...or more importantly..how long are the people of Russia willing to put up with hard times so that their govt can continue on its course of action.

We know people tire out quickly...and US banks on the sanctions making the common man's life miserable so that he/she turns against the govt.

 

[Götterdämmerung]

Sweden, a tiny voiceless puppet state of Washington.

They used to be really neutral until Olof Palme got murdered. Ever since Sweden is stuck in the Stockholm syndrome.

 

[doppelganger]

While I agree with this statement that no one was able to stop them, their economy is indeed taking a massive hit. The question is how long can Russia sustain...or more importantly..how long are the people of Russia willing to put up with hard times so that their govt can continue on its course of action.

We know people tire out quickly...and US banks on the sanctions making the common man's life miserable so that he/she turns against the govt.

Sanctions never stopped India.

Sanctions never stopped Iran.

In the end it was the US which came to the table.

You think sanctions are going to stop a country that stopped the Nazis?

 

[vostok]

While I agree with this statement that no one was able to stop them, their economy is indeed taking a massive hit. The question is how long can Russia sustain...or more importantly..how long are the people of Russia willing to put up with hard times so that their govt can continue on its course of action.

We know people tire out quickly...and US banks on the sanctions making the common man's life miserable so that he/she turns against the govt.

The dollar is now 54 rubles. Prices for the year have not increased by 2-3 times, only by 15-20%. Industrial growth continues. Agriculture and fishing are booming. Companies that manufacture shoes and clothes are transferring their orders from China to Russia. Electronics will be replaced with domestic products.
Sanctions - a great chanse to introduce protectionist measures. This is good for the economy.
A Russian can endure any period of time, if it is beneficial for the Motherland. In the West they just can not realize what sacrifices may Russian people do in the name of Holy Russia.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

While I agree with this statement that no one was able to stop them, their economy is indeed taking a massive hit. The question is how long can Russia sustain...or more importantly..how long are the people of Russia willing to put up with hard times so that their govt can continue on its course of action.

We know people tire out quickly...and US banks on the sanctions making the common man's life miserable so that he/she turns against the govt.

The Russian economy was going to take a hit anyway, because of the inevitable crash in oil prices, a result of increasing oil production from the Gulf combined with falling demand for oil from Europe and Asia.

The Russian people might have blamed Putin for that, but luckily something ELSE came along and took all the pressure off Putin.

Guess what? That's right, Western sanctions, which the Russian people blame for the downturn in the Russian economy.

Check the opinion polls, Putin's popularity is reaching all-time highs in Russia.

The irony is that if the West did not sanction Russia, then the Russian people might have blamed Putin for their economic woes. But now they are focusing all their anger on the West.

Putin is the real winner in all of this. He received an unbelievable surge in popularity among the Russian people.