Russia’s Soviet Echo: Rebuilding an Empire in a New World Order?

Signifying the end of a bipolar world order ruled by two superpowers, the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991 reconfigured the world map. The largest successor state of the USSR, the Russian Federation, obtained nuclear weapons and was guaranteed a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. However, the ideological appeal, financial power, population size, and land of the Russian Federation have all diminished. Moscow has become more aggressive in its foreign policy since then, especially under Vladimir Putin’s administration. Therefore, one still wonders if Russia could one day be as powerful as the Soviet Union.

Source: Foreign Policy

Answering this necessitates a clear understanding of what constituted Soviet power. Although the Red Army possessed strong conventional forces and a large nuclear stockpile, its strength derived not solely from military might. The Soviet influence was driven by a powerful combination of elements, including a centrally planned…