Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Can Russia still be considered a great power? For much of modern history, Russia has been regarded as one of the world’s great powers, shaping borders, defeating major rivals, and playing a decisive role in the international system. But today, that status is increasingly being questioned. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was intended to demonstrate strength and resolve, yet it has instead exposed significant military, economic, and structural weaknesses. But what does it really mean to be a “great power” in international relations, why the concept is so contested, and why Russia now sits at the centre of this debate. By examining geography, population, economic capacity, natural resources, and historical legacy, it sets out the foundations of Russian power and why they have mattered for so long.
Following this, it then turns to Russia’s post-Cold War trajectory, from the collapse of the Soviet Union and the upheavals of the 1990s to Vladimir Putin’s efforts to restore Russian influence. It assesses Russia’s role as a nuclear power, its permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and its ability to disrupt international politics, while also weighing these against a weak and undiversified economy, limited soft power, and growing dependence on China. Above all, it asks what the Ukraine war has revealed about the limits of Russian power. Is Russia still a great power, a declining one, or something in between?
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:49 Russia and Great Powers in International Relations
01:39 Russia: Geography, Population, and Economic Strength
04:23 The Emergence of Russia as a Great Power
05:55 The Soviet Union as a Superpower
08:03 Russia after the Cold War: From Yeltsin to Ukraine
10:46 The Case For Russia as a Great Power
12:00 The Case Against Russia as a Great Power
13:17 Is Russia Still a Great Power?
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JOIN THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
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*MY LATEST BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Russia #VladimirPutin #InternationalRelations
Can Russia still be considered a great power? For much of modern history, Russia has been regarded as one of the world’s great powers, shaping borders, defeating major rivals, and playing a decisive role in the international system. But today, that status is increasingly being questioned. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was intended to demonstrate strength and resolve, yet it has instead exposed significant military, economic, and structural weaknesses. But what does it really mean to be a “great power” in international relations, why the concept is so contested, and why Russia now sits at the centre of this debate. By examining geography, population, economic capacity, natural resources, and historical legacy, it sets out the foundations of Russian power and why they have mattered for so long.
Following this, it then turns to Russia’s post-Cold War trajectory, from the collapse of the Soviet Union and the upheavals of the 1990s to Vladimir Putin’s efforts to restore Russian influence. It assesses Russia’s role as a nuclear power, its permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and its ability to disrupt international politics, while also weighing these against a weak and undiversified economy, limited soft power, and growing dependence on China. Above all, it asks what the Ukraine war has revealed about the limits of Russian power. Is Russia still a great power, a declining one, or something in between?
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:49 Russia and Great Powers in International Relations
01:39 Russia: Geography, Population, and Economic Strength
04:23 The Emergence of Russia as a Great Power
05:55 The Soviet Union as a Superpower
08:03 Russia after the Cold War: From Yeltsin to Ukraine
10:46 The Case For Russia as a Great Power
12:00 The Case Against Russia as a Great Power
13:17 Is Russia Still a Great Power?
*SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS*
If you enjoy the channel and would like to support independent analysis of international relations, conflict, and security, there are several ways you can help:
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
youtube.com/channel/UCEszqJb1FjYisBevHBIof3g
youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay?sub_confirmation=1
JOIN THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
YouTube: youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay/join
Patreon: patreon.com/JamesKerLindsay
*MY LATEST BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Russia #VladimirPutin #InternationalRelations
