Russia today is as prominent in international affairs as it was at the height of the Cold War. Yet the role that the economy plays in supporting Russia''s position as a ''great power'' on the international stage is poorly understood. For many, Russia''s political influence far exceeds its weight in the global economy. However, Russia is one of the largest economies in the world; it is not only one of the world''s most important exporters of oil and gas, but also of othernatural resources, such as diamonds and gold. Its status as one of the largest wheat and grain exporters shapes commodity prices across the globe, while Russia''s enormous arms industry, second only to the United States, provides it with the means to pursue an increasingly assertive foreign policy.All this means that Russia''s economy is crucial in serving the country''s political objectives, both within Russia and across the world. Russia today has a distinctly political type of economy that is neither the planned econ
