Decoding the Russian Experience: History as a Lens

European perspectives on Russian relations highlight a historical continuity of adaptation and strategic navigation. The Soviet era, once seen as oppressive, paradoxically allowed for some institutional stability and advancements in technology, which Europeans viewed as progress. However, post-Soviet expectations of modernization and democratization proved optimistic, as Russia exhibited signs of regression rather than growth. This context illustrates that current global transformations are not solely driven by Russia's actions but signify a broader decline of familiar global structures. The historical lens underscores that access to critical resources underpinned industrial success, and the absence of such resources often relegated nations to colonial status.