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Reconsiderations: Swollen State, Spent Society: Stalin's Legacy to Brezhnev's Russia

By Robert C. Tucker
Winter 1981/2
Article Summary and Author Biography

Russia today is a mighty world power, with the largest territory of any state, a population of 260 million, great mineral resources in a resource-hungry world, and a geopolitical position that gives it a large role in both European and Asian affairs. It is a military superpower with intercontinental and intermediate-range nuclear missiles in large numbers, supersonic airplanes, a huge standing army based on universal military service, and fleets in all oceans. It controls an East and Central European empire extending deep into Germany and the Balkans. Its power and influence radiate into Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Africa and Latin America.

Robert C. Tucker is Professor of Politics and Director of the Russian Studies Program at Princeton University. His books include Stalin as Revolutionary and, most recently, Politics as Leadership. The work leading to this report was supported in part from funds provided by the National Council for Soviet and East European Research.

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