Modernization

The economic crisis of 2008-09 broke the strong growth trend, which had characterized the Russian economy in the 2000s. The crisis exposed that Russia’s economic greatness was more or less dependent on oil and gas exports, and revealed a continued lack of structural transformation. In the autumn 2009, President Medvedev presented his vision of a modern Russia. He envisaged a Russia that relies on brainpower and becomes a leader in high technology industries. The most important aspect for him was modernization and the transition to an innovation-driven economy. Nanotechnology, pharmacy, nuclear power, biotechnology and energy conservation were singled out as important priorities. The overall goal of modernization was to raise people’s living standards.

Even the priorities in foreign policy increasingly reflected the government’s modernization agenda. Since modernization was intimately tied investments, introduction of new technology and innovations, Russia found itself having to improve its relations with the countries that can provide this. Therefore, Russia courted the U.S. and the EU with the aim of attracting investment and new technology from there. Moscow’s decision to support UN sanctions against Iran and to initiate discussions on cooperation on missile defense with NATO should probably be seen in this perspective. Modernization has become a means to reach the more traditional goal of foreign policy, that of restoring Russia’s position as a great power. Without new technology and an economy that is not primarily based on commodity exports, this goal would prove difficult to achieve.

Will Russia succeed in modernizing its economy and industry sector over the next decade? Can Russia diversify and reduce its dependence on oil? How stable is the relationship with the West? On this web page we have collected a series of publications focusing on various aspects of Russia’s modernization.

RUFS Briefing No. 8, June 2011 - Russian science: In peril but out of focus, by Fredrik Westerlund.
 
Westerlund, Fredrik. Russian Nanotechnology R&D: Thinking big about small scale science. FOI User report, June 2011

Oxenstierna, Susanne . Russia's Nuclear Energy Expansion. FOI User report, December 2010

Roffey, Roger.  Biotechnology in Russia: Why is it not a success story? FOI User report, April 2010

Westerlund, Fredrik. Russian Intelligence Gathering for Domestic R&D - Short Cut or Dead End for Modernisation? FOI Memo 3126, April 2010.

Heikerö, Roland. Emerging Cyber Threats and Russian Views on Information Warfare and Information Operations. FOI User report, March 2010

Oxenstierna, Susanne. The Russian Economy in 2009: Steep decline despite crisis management. FOI User report, December 2009