Transformation, happened in the world economic system at
the end of the 20th century, raised a number of new
problems related to geopolitical and geo-economic reality of
the modern world. First, the world has become more dynamic,
heterogeneous and offensive. The West is trying to impose its
liberal values to other cultures, whereas non-western societies,
having acquired independence, are looking forward to get rid
of western economic military and cultural domination. According
to professor
S. Huntington
the clash between civilisations will occur in all directions,
including economic spheres such as trade and investment.1
Main superpowers will expand their spheres of influence
by establishing economic control over territory and markets.
The problem of geo-economic competition between newly-establishing
regions Ц superpowers is becoming a focus of great debate.
One can observe a formation of a new system of economic activity,
which provides the grounds for establishing some socially- economic
areas. These areas appear on the base of the structure-building
algorithms of economic practice formation and fundamental comнpetitive
advantages, carried out in the system of world labour division
and, as a result, posнsessing their own political and economic
priority systems. The configuration of Уnew regionalismФ is
ever more shown on the world policy Ц North-Atlantic,
Pacific, Euro-Asian and Southern geo-economic areals are establishing
themselves as integrated socially-ecoнnomic groups with remarkable
degree of goals and interests unity of the states-participants.
It can be presumed that in the 21st century the world will
consist only of regional ecoнnomic blocs. State-region is marked
by broken links between politics and economy and reнspectively
between the rules of law and wealth. On the one hand, we can
observe the number of regions the unity of which is achieved
by mutual prosperity. They began to play more reнmarkable and
independent role in the world economy. On the other hand, the
heritage of the state still exists, despite the considerable
loss of its functions. The state remains to be a certain territory
structure, responsible for the well-being of its population.
On the edge of the 20ннЦ21st
centuries it faces a very difficult task: to preserve its unity
as well as the existence of its population and territory in
the era of rapidly increasing independence.
The reality of modern globalizing world reflects in the fact
that power of the state-naнtion is being undermined both on
the transnational level by the forces from above and by the
forces from below Ц tendencies for regionalism and statesТ division.
States remain sovereign politically but their economic power
may change as a result of globalisation influences.
The end of the 20th century is also marked by
debating the problem of links between economy, space and the
increasing interest for the research of their interconnections.
No doubt, that geo-economics is in fashion now, but any fashion
reflects the most characteristic features of its epoch. From
this point of view, the 20th century is characterised
by the three factors. First, we witness the growth of countriesТ
interdependence in different spheres (trade, investment, flow
of capital, Уknow-howФ exchange), that results in more extensive
growth of interdependence.
Secondly, the most important branches of some countriesТ
economies (agriculture, inнdustry, and services) are targeted
rather at international than at the national market. Third,
the majority of countries connect their future and survival
with their ability to participate in interнnational technological
and economic competition. At the same time, it should be stressed
that from the geo-economic point of view the global economic
space is characterised by substanнtial heterogeneity and division.
The majority of countries are integrating into one economic
system presuming, however, certain differences in the level
of their development. Nevertheнless, it only intensifies flows
of goods, capital and people.
For example, capital is extremely mobile by nature. It may
bring profit in one place and pay taxes in another one. Capital
moves to the place with better conditions created for it. Sometimes
it evaluates the situation in the market, more often it uses
certain strategy, but alнmost always it takes into consideration
economic and partly political purposes. The rules of the global
market behaviour are changing. It is not the capital that is
looking for a stateТs proнtection, but it is the state (region)
that makes advances to the big capital. Rich states (regions)
in such a world will form the archipelago standing in the ocean
of poverty. There appear competitive interests of economic,
social and political actors no longer representing an inteнgrated
Уnational interestsФ.2
Multinational enterprises (УmultisФ headquarters), cities-states
or rapidly developing regions (growth УtrianglesФ in South-Eastern
Asia on the border with neighbouring countries) act as centres
of attraction or centralities.
Uncontrolled regionalism weakens the
effectiveness of stateТs supervision and may lead to the loss
of the state power. We all know historic examples of great nationsТ
golden times and collapse. Countries unable to adjust themselves
to the interior and exterior chalнlenges were doomed to die
and became victims of other rapidly developing nations.3
It is not only that
Russia
has lowered its status to the level of regional power on the
scale of CIS, but also it is also loosing its influence on the
neighbouring countries and is conнtent with secondary roles.
With its economic and military powers being limited, the political
importance of our country in the bordering newly-formed geo-economic
territories of Asia Ц Central, Southern, South-Eastern and North-Eastern
Ц has decreased substantially, while the role of China, its
eastern neighbour has recently increased to the scale of regional
power with the prospects of becoming a super state.
Pessimistic forecasts concerning the future role of Russia in the world are connected with
the fact that present domestic policy fails to visualise the
world global trends. The reнvival of
Russia
may never happen if we continue exploiting our resources Ц vast
space, natuнral deposits and high-skilled workers and do not
develop our technological potential as well as intellectual
and political freedom in contract to our East Asian УtigersФ.
To my opinion, the main problem in the way of development
of global trends lies in the fact that these ideas are not widely
acknowledged by those responsible for the formulation of national
economic policy and is not a component of the latter. The supporters
of globalisaнtion do not strive to contrast it to the national
development. On the contrary, ineffective adнaptation of the
country to the world markets deprives it and its economic subjects
of great economic advantages from mutual co-operation and entails
serious losses.
In the period when national economy becomes more and more
resource-based and forнeign economic links entail destructive
character, it may be quite reasonable to shift to the new level
of state control over economic mechanisms. The analytical report
of the Federation Council of RF Federal Assembly УAbout measures
of perfecting state control over economy and correcting the
economic reformsФ states that Уin modern economic environment
characнterised by globalisation of economic links and international
economic integration the funcнtions of the state in foreign
relations are subjected to considerable change. Moreover, the
inнstruments of state protection of national interests become
more and more complicated.4
World economic practice brings us numerous examples proving
this statement.
According to experts Уstate market of industrially-developed
countries, as a rule is connected to the key economic spheres
such as agriculture, power engineering, transport, deнfence,
scientific and technological complexes. In this spheres the
state acts both as the main buyer and the basic consumer of
good and services produced by these industrial branchesФ5
and uses two main mechanisms: federal budget and federal
contract system.
Taking into consideration unfavourable
natural conditions for business in Russia, such as severe climatic
conditions, great distances, depreciated infrastructure and
high-cost transнportation, it becomes clear, that only strengthening
the function of the state in resource distriнbution and establishing
the mercantilist control over capital flows (that is to say
creating faнvourable conditions in your country for the countryТs
own production development) will help the state increase its
influence in geo-economic competition.
What is the essence of state functionsТ transformation in
the new global environment (globalisation of markets, an increasing
pressure from the side of supranational and sub-fedнeral factors)?
The question arises if the federative Centre can be a core and
connecting link of the state territorial structure on the background
of open markets and state financial crisis, or if Russia is facing the threat of disintegration.
The role of
Russia
and its regions in rapidly changing political and economic global
environment is also debated.
Heterogeneity of
Russia
is caused not only by its great distances, but also by the fact
that its regional constituents (on the sub-federal level) are
characterised by different degree of outward orientation. Regions,
the products of which successfully compete in the world market
have received a great impact for their further development.
The situation arises that separate regions may appear to be
more financially powerful and more integrated into world economy
than the state itself, thus laying grounds for the increase
of centrifugal forces in economic and political spheres within
the borders of one state.
As a result of development of such tendencies the relations
between states are subнjected to radical change connected with
the substitution of system-forming factors in internaнtional
relationship. Meanwhile the introduction of the notion Уgeo-economicsФ
aiming to reнflect a new level of economic development and integration
processes is highly indicative. It is not
by chance that several scientists offer to substitute the notion
Уinternational economyФ with the notion Уworld political economyФ,
as we all observe the economic factors becoming the main political
resource.6
Geo-economics has its own interpretation of the two main
issues of geopolitics quesнtioning what is power and how does
it materialise? According to the statements of geopolitics,
formulated by the Englishman Halford John MacKinder and by the
German scientist Karl Haushoter, it is control over elements
having large mass (territory, people, national reнsources)7
that ensures the power of the state. The notions УpowerФ
and УsecurityФ are closely connected with each other. To possess
power means to have a maximum variety of resources.8
From its side, geo-economics identifies power as the control
over international networks. Power results from ability to create
international networks (trading channels, information flows),
to use them and make them bring profit. The one who plays the
strategic role in this international network or in the total
combination of international networks and successfully uses
various advantages enjoys real power.
In modern world geo-economic competition is developing in
accordance with the laws of post-industrial development. It
is not the resource component of the national wealth, but the
intellectual component of it that plays a more important role
and it was illustrated by the post-war development of УAsian
tigersФ. On the global scale the balance of power and interнests
will more likely to be preserved by non-military economic measures
such as expanding to the global markets not only by means of
trade but also with the help of investment and introнduction
of new technologies. Let us consider Russia and the region of Western Siberia from the point of view of their position in
geo-economic competition on the continent of
Eurasia.
The Economic factor and space in the beginning
of the 21th century:
Siberia on the Eurasian Continent
Asian region (North-Eastern Asia, South-Eastern Asia)
characterized
by the most rapidly-growing markets is known as the region of
US economic priority for a long time alнready.
China
is also more directed to the West with USA, Japan and EC countries as its main trading
partners and is rapidly expanding to the domestic markets of
the neighboring countries. What can be opposed to this expansion
by Russia, if we take
into consideration our geoнgraphical proximity to the countries
of Asia-Pacific region? Today it is obvious that resources and
space remain to be the major factor of geopolitical influence
of Russia in this region. New rapidly growing
Asian economies are in need of natural resources, power and
secure ways of transportation. It is just what
Siberia, a region stretching from the Urals in the
west to the Paнcific Ocean
in the East can offer to them.
West-Siberian region is a continental region stretching in
the meridian direction and bordering in the south on China,
Mongolia and Kazachstan, countries characterised by miniнmum
integration into newly-establishing УBig SpaceФ groups (grossraum)
in the West (EC) and in the East (Asia-Pacific Energy Community
(APEC)). As a member of APEC, Russia has
the right to use its geographical potentials for the profit
of the nations-participants of this group and can act as an
agent actively projecting the power of pacific economies to
transatнlantic and Central-Asian Markets, due to its tariffsТ
and infrastructural policy. Transsib, the Northern variant of
the Silk Route (stretching through the territories of China,
Kazachstan and then through the Urals) and meridian way from
the Indian Ocean (from Iran going through the eastern coast
of the Caspian Sea and then through Russia to Europe) represent
3 major chanнnels of transportation that will link West-Siberian
region and will make it more important from the point of view
of its consolidating role in the geo-economic expansion of Asia-Pacific
region to the West.
It will let our country, as well as the region, acquire the
status of the Уfront borderФ in order to fix its important role
in creating profits of pacific economies and lay the grounds
for including our production facilities, scientific and technological
centres into this regionТs diviнsion of labour. If Russia is looking
forward to entering Asia-Pacific region (APR) with its Ural-Siberian
region, its geo-economic pro-pacific policy will have to find
a reliable support in its Central-Asian strategy. It is easy
to observe that Pacific strategy may lead to the oligopoly of
Russia, China and Iran in the sphere of transcontinental railway
communication on the major part of Eurasia, that is to say to
create Уthe pacific base in the heart of the contiнnentФ9.
Due to some historic and geo-economic causes Russia is more interested in the post-Soviet
space, and that is why we most of all value the relationships
wilt those Asian states that express their interest in CIS.
We can work together in the framework of already-created Cusнtoms
Agreement, elaborating new integration projects and strengthening
security.
Central Asia
and Middle East are important
to Russia in view of stabilisation of the
Russian South and maintenance of good relationships with Muslim
world. Absence of peace and security in this part of
Asia
affects our economic interests, blocking important transport
and communication channels. It also creates difficulties in
oil and gas extraction and transнportation as well as in attracting
investment from this region and getting debt payments from the
Lebanon,
Iraq,
Syria
and other countries.
The development of central regions of
Eurasia is only in the early stage and represents
a second priority to western interests, but it makes possible
an inland communication between such vitally important regions
as Eastern Asia
and Persian Gulf. Alongside
the forнmer Soviet-Chinese land border probably the most geopolitically-active
zone of the modern world is to be found, stretching for more
than 7 thousand kilometres with its demographic disbalances,
ethnic contradictions, natural resources and newly-appearing
states.
Intensification and expansion of economic
links in the region will result in diversifiнcation of import
flows from the neighbouring Siberian territories. It will lay
grounds for changing the alarming proportional structure of
Russian export for the increase of high-tech products share
ensuring the necessary basement for the future growth. Moreover,
a new level of co-operation with CIS countries and other Eurasian
states may result in substantial weakнening of RussiaТs dependency upon western financial
institutions. One of the most important steps in reaching these
goals is the formation of the Eurasian Economic Community. Besides,
the economic program of the Eurasians is worth paying attention
to. The ideas of combining state control and private sector
may compete with both planned economic systems and radical liberalism.
Growth poles in this region will be represented
by China
and Asian part of
Russia. The development of
Chinese power will probably go on in the next decade as well.
If it hapнpens,
Russia
will have to adjust to
China, this is still finding
its place among global powers. Although
Peking
concentrates its attention mainly on Taiwan and southern direction, it will
render a great economic and demographic pressure on
Central Asia and Russian Far East. Judging the overall
capacity of Chinese economy and its dynamic development will
become more important for the development of
Siberia and Russian Far East, than their connections
with
Europe. Together with further strengthening of traditional
interconnections with EC countries, Siberia is fully capable of broadening its trade turnover
with countries of Asia-Pacific region. Now it is in an embryonic
stage of development. The total share of
Russia
in the volume of foreign trade turnover with Asian states does
not exceed 2 percent. Other posнsible fields of co-operation
are almost neglected as well.
RussiaТs priorities in the field of co-operation with China
lie in the field of attracting foreign investments as well as
in realising joint projects which let us use the resources and
economic advantages of both countries most efficiently. For
example, it may be large-scale power projects such as oil and
gas pipelinesТ construction, electric power supply and producнtion
of the equipment for the hydroelectric power stations. Forecasts
here are quite favourable. New deposits enable us to increase
oil extraction a cut above already by 2005. The extraction of
coal and electric power production may be doubled by this time,
while the extraction of gas may even triple. All this forms
the base of energy resources enough to supply China as well as South Korea, Japan and other
countries of Asia-Pacific region.
Today there are still a lot of unsolved problems. In particular Russia is lacking state control mechanisms
to ensure the process of its integration into global economic
system.
Russia
is also in need of new economic zones formation based on effective
usage of the poнtential resulting from its Eurasian location.
What can be gained by Siberia from its transit location?
Geographical resources should play one of the most important
roles in the revival of the economic power of the West-Siberian
regions. The growth points for West-Siberian reнgions most probably
lie in its location. Situated in the very centre of Eurasian
continent it serves as a frontier region which divides and unites
the elements of the integral planetary system at the same time,
providing the shortest routes between growth poles in the West
and East. The territoryТs revival is closely connected with
the development of transport infraнstructure, as the system
of production and housing is based on transport communications.
Numerous research conducted by the scientists
of Institution of Economics (Siberian Branch of Russian Academy
of Science) showed that it is transportation on renewed basis
that represents the linking infrastructure of regional (on the
scale of one country), national (on the continental scale) and
transcontinental economies, that is the economies on the planetary
scale. Countries of the Asia-Pacific region, having the most
rapid economic development rates are highly interested in using
Russian transport communications.10But
Russia has real competitors in this kind of transit services.
Thus, China, the USA and EC are very active in lobbying the
creation of new УSilk RouteФ off the territory of Russia (arterial
roadТs project TRACECA).11
The territory of Western Siberia
in meridian direction is crossed by the two world largest riverways
navigable over their whole lengths Ч the
Ob and the Enisej. In the latitude direction
Russia
is crossed by Trans-Siberian Railway. Moreover, much is talked
about the project of the North Russian Eurasian railway main
line (Barentzkoamur Ц Sevsib Ц the Baiнkal-Amur Railway) which
will stretch from the port of Indiga in the Barentz Sea and
in the perspective will go up to the port of Vanino on the coast
of Tatarsky Streit, thus bringing a big growth impact to the
freight traffic in these directions and stimulating the economic
activнity in the neighbouring territories. There is one more
prospective railway main line, a Central Trans-Siberian Railway
which will stretch up to the Korean Peninsula
and Japan
uniting railнway lines of Sahalin and Hoccaido (picture 1).
As a result, the two latitude transportation channels within
borders of the Asian part of Russia will be integrated
into one frontier transнcontinent South- Eastern Asia Ц Europe connecting not only their in-land but also island regions.
In meridian direction it is important to maintain the North
Eastern Passage with freights from the proнvincial regions of
Siberia, treasured as reserve centres of the countryТs
security and the prospective guarantee of its economic revival.
The development of new cross-pole air routes minimising the
distance between American and Asian regions (TP Ц 1 (transcontinental
passage) from North America
to Pakiнstan and India and TP Ц 2
through Siberia to South-Western
Asia, see picture 2) is very promising. The development of transportation
airway channels is being debated in the official circles. Thus,
the adminiнstration of Novosibirsk Region and RF Minister of
Transport are examining documents concerning airнport Tolmachevo
and its ambition to be included into the list of airports foreseen
by the internaнtional agreement between
Europe
and South-Eastern Asia. In particular, the problem with technical
landings in Tolmachevo of German Airline Company Lufthansa Cargo
has already been solved.
Generally speaking we talk about optimisation of the world
transport interconnections and freight traffic. It will be highly
advantageous for the economies of Europe and Asia-Paнcific region as well as for Siberia itself. For example, Japan and Korea may reduce their
transportation costs in the turnover with Europe by 15Ч20 percent
using Trans-Siberian Railway at the same time facilitating their
financial transactions.
It is obvious that together with development of SiberiaТs
economy and construction of new international transportation
channels, Russia will have to work out new and more effecнtive
transportation tariffТs strategy. An active use of enormous
inner potential of Siberia let us considerably broaden borders
and increase its level of economic interaction with other counнtries,
built on qualitatively new bases in the perspective.
The Wealth of Siberia will be enriched Е by Siberia
Siberia is rich in mineral resources and lacks capital. In
reality, colonisation of the terнritory is slowly making it
a social and ecological desert. Can we use its natural wealth
to raise the welfare of its population?
However, outflow of resources and depletion of national wealth
make the situation quite the opposite. Economy based on the
extraction of natural resources and excessive power consumption
deprives itself of the future growth and badly effects the natural
environment. Let us show you some facts.
The great majority of Siberian and Far-Eastern
regions act as financial donors, not of domestic but of world
economies, with the total balance volume of produced and consumed
regional product comparable to the volume of capital outflow
from Russia.12
Today 2/3 of all currency flows is being
formed in Siberian regions, but these regions are not known
as the leaders of investment.
Leading enterprises of Siberian industry are mainly exporting
their products. The best example of this statement is represented
by Krasnojarsky Region with its world-largest faciliнties of
nickel and aluminium production (Krasnojarsky
Aluminium plant) Ц 90% of its output
is consumed by foreign markets.
Territories without such enterprises are gradually becoming
zones of depression or Уsocial desertsФ. It the state development
strategy is not reviewed in a short period, we will observe
further disintegration and decay of RussiaТs regions.
Vast spaces become a source of problems instead of being
a source of wealth: it is necessary to supply northern regions
(the so-called north delivery) and maintain long-stretching
transportation ways. These territories are located far from
the places where ecoнnomic decisions are made.
It is conditioned by historical causes
that the basic industry of Siberia has always been extractive
industry and military-industrial complex. If the former had
no difficulties in adнjusting itself to export-oriented models
of development in both directions (oil, gas, wood, non-ferrous
metals) with considerable loss of profits in relation to the
producing regions, the latter, including enterprises of aircraft
and machine Ч building hasnТt found its place in this model
yet.
What can be offered as an alternative?
Where are the growth points, which will create the wealth of
Russia, instead of depleting it? Russia is in need of well-thought
state industrial policy in order to attract investments which
can be attracted only by commercial profit. This policy should
be based on the unity of science and production and create favourable
condiнtions for venture capital, able to meet high risks.
It is widely known that human resources and Уknow-howФ technologies
represent the basic factor of geo-economic competition in the
era of globalisation.
In the Soviet period in 1960s-1970s several Siberian regions,
such as Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Krasnojarsk and Irkutsk were actively
creating various scientific research centres which still retain
lots of it attraction for giant hi-tech corporations.
Information networks development being carried out in these
centres let us solve the issue of the first priority for our
country, namely it let us attract foreign venture investments
for developing the technical base of these very centres (computer
software, biotechnology, environment monitoring). To out regret,
all poor and developing economies are characterised by Уbrain-drainФ.
Many scientists prefer to work at home but for western money
and for the welfare of western economy. However, the achievements
in the field of hi-tech technologies canТt be called УnationalФ,
as they tend to be spread very quickly and in the end the whole
mankind is able to enjoy its benefits.
УNew economyФ for Siberia
Recent years created favourable conditions for successful
development of science. It is no longer preoccupied with theoretical
analysis and concentrates mainly on practical impleнmentation
of scientific achievements. Science has become Уwell-soldФ in
the respected meaning of this world, and great numbers of businessmen
began to value scientific elaboraнtion as the future source
of their success.
Today the return from investments into manufacturing, based
on particular scientific innovations, may be two times as quick
as in any other field of business.
Siberian scientists have many projects, which may become
innovations with appropriнate investments. However, mass production
of these innovations is not always a success.
Sergei Svezchkov, the general director of the fund УThe Centre
of strategic elaboration УSiberiaФФ
says that as a result we confront a paradoxical situation: УRussian
scientists sell their projects abroad, as they canТt put them
into practice in their own country, while Russian companies
buy the same projects in foreign countries, as we donТt have
a high-tech technolнogy marketФ13.
Meanwhile the biggest success in innovation the field of
hi-tech technologies is achieved by small companies, created
by former employees of scientific institutions.
Thus, about 150 hi-tech firms work only in
Novosibirsk
Academic
Center. The numнber of employees
of such companies varies from 20 to 100 and sales volume is
ranging from 200.000 to 1 mln. rubles per one employee.
We can compare these figures with the statistics of the Institute of Applied Microelecнtronics
and see that they have only 218 thousand roubles a year per
one employee.
Big research institutions which have to maintain considerable
tangible assets and lead fundamental research canТt survive
without support of the state. Two years ago an association of
software companies УSibacadem SoftФ was created, and this year
witnessed the formation of the hi-tech firms association УSibacadem
InnovationФ. The total cost of its programmers contracts is
$18-39 mln.
Quick expansion of Russia into the foreign hi-tech market
may be facilitated by a new project УStartФ, the essence of
which is in creating a special economic zone on the territory of Novosibirsk Academic
Centre.
This project unites the most optimal models of widely discussed
multivariant apнproaches, takes into consideration the world
practise of problem-solving and is based on modern technological
and scientific infrastructure.
This project creates three structures:
According to S. Sverchikov,
Уwith time the Soviet model of science marked by the foнcus
on defence industry is being transformed into the following
model: RAC (Russian
Academy of Science Ц small
and medium hi-tech business Ц industrial clusters (large corpoнrations).
It is necessary to add that intelligent and talented managers
should help Russia become the
leading monopolist in the scientific market by the year of 2015.
Summary
Summing it all up, the following conclusions can be made.
Russia
and its regions may successfully incorporate into the process
of globalisation if their domestic and international policies
take into consideration modern trends of world economic development.
Power of the state remains to be the main actor of international
relationships. It should rely on the increase of the stateТs
competitive advantages in view of the near perspective.
A) In the field of resource potential the situation is more
difficult because of the fact that resource sector (excluding
agriculture) is less dependant upon direct state support and
at the same time plays the role of a large-scale tax-payer.
Taking into consideration inevitable budget reductions, which
are in store for Russian economy, the share of the resource
sector will not only diminish but also increase considerably.
It is necessary to carry out a more careнful processing of resources
at the place of their extraction. Moreover, resource regions
(the North of Western Siberia) should be granted a larger share
of financial resources to use it in investment projects.
B) On the one hand, the transition to the active support
of technological advantages will demand sacrifice on the side
of resource sector. On the other hand, this transition will
make it necessary to attract large- scale financial resources
into manufacturing industry (big industrial enterprises in Siberian
towns). While resource sector can provide itself with investнment
on condition of favourable state policy, industrial sector has
greater degree of dependence upon state (chemical and petrochemical
industries, metallurgy and machine-building).
C) We should target our activity at innovation breakthrough
and do our best to deнvelop technical bases (science towns)
in the centres of academic and applied science of Sibeнrian
Branch of Russian Academy of Science.
The major difficulties are caused by the lack of finance
and the absence of technology transfer. In this sphere, it is
much cheaper to render financial support, but in order to do
it, we need well-thought organising models and mechanisms. At
the same time a great number of high-skilled professionals available
in
Russia
make the stimulation of innovative activity rather logical and
necessary.
As far as the space in the state domestic and international
is concerned the advantage of
Russia
lies in its location as a Уfront borderФ in the Eurasian space
between two poles.
RusiaТs interests would be well served by the convergence
of transit routes in southern
Siberia and the southern Urals, in the form of
a Russian-supported УPacific geo-economic bridgehead within
the mainlaind.Ф Such a strategy would provide an alternative
to the counнtryТs current excessive dependence on the united
EuropesТs economy by setting
Russia
up as the western frontier of the Asia-Pacific regionТs geo-economic
space.
[*]
Yudina, Irina. States and Regions Role Transformation in
the Era of Globalization // The Regional Cooperation of Northeast
Asia and RussiaТs Globalization for the 21st Century, Seoul,
Korea. 22-24 June 2003.
REFERENCES
See Literature
