Whether Russia, one of 15 successor states to the USSR, which broke up in 1991, is still a genuine world power in 2015 is open to question, reports .

Russia's economy is the 10th largest in the world, producing little of value beyond hydrocarbons.

Corruption and rent-seeking extract an enormous economic toll.

It remains burdened with Soviet era infrastructure, and its ability to meet the educational and medical needs of its population is rapidly declining.

Whatever one's view, two further points for and against Russia's global standing are undeniable:

- Russia regards itself as a great power - it is not in question anywhere inside the country;

- China has long since eclipsed Russia as the world's number two power behind the US.

Yet for all Russia's pretence about a rebalancing of priorities towards Asia, since the fallout over Ukraine, it still measures itself against the West, and America in particular.

bbabo.Net