Airstrip One

Dancing to the tune of 1907


In the first decade of the last century, Russia was the fastest growing economy in Europe, a strong counterweight to the Central Powers and a rising power whose strength was marked by Germany in its prospective timetables for war. A decade has now passed since the fall of the Soviet Union and the Russian Republic is currently wedded to NATO through a ministerial council. Yet, it has regained its role as a source of raw materials for the West, it remains too big to be swallowed up by the EU and the economy appears to be undergoing a structural revival.


Hamish MacRae points out the possible economic advantages of a revived Russia as a supplier to the EU but, politically, Moscow will prove a counterweight and an obstacle to any overweening ambitions that Europe may hold for its hinterlands.