For now, however, all three are riding high on oil revenue.
"This is perhaps the largest shift of wealth and resources in the history of the world economy," said Andrei Illarionov, who was an economic advisor to former Russian President Vladimir Putin and is now a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. "This money happens to be a kind of windfall profit for these countries, compensating for failures in other areas."
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday, July 19, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 44 words Type of Material: Correction
Russian official: An article in Thursday's Section A on how some oil-rich nations are feeling empowered to oppose U.S. policies misidentified Grigory Yavlinsky as head of Russia's opposition Yabloko party. Yavlinsky stepped down as party chairman June 21 and was replaced by Sergei Mitrokhin.
A nine-year run of growing oil revenue has restored Russia to a strength it hasn't experienced since the Soviet heyday. No longer a broken country fumbling for footing, Russia is now a major player on the world stage.
Ten years ago, Russia was swamped with debt. Today, it sits on the world's third-largest monetary reserves, topped only by China and Japan.
The government has unveiled popular initiatives to boost pensions and improve benefits for veterans. New President Dmitry Medvedev promised to focus on socioeconomic woes that beset ordinary Russians.
Meanwhile, Moscow has become increasingly aggressive toward Western-leaning former Soviet states, imposing a blockade on Georgia and engaging in a dispute with Ukraine over the pricing of natural gas.
Putin has sparred with the United States over NATO expansion; U.S. plans to install missile defense radar and rockets in Poland and the Czech Republic; and recognition of Kosovo's independence.
Russia has also boosted ties with Iran, building a nuclear power plant in the city of Bushehr and providing nuclear fuel -- even as Iran's nuclear program has emerged as a source of acrimony with the West.
Medvedev recently charged that incompetence and arrogance by Washington and U.S. businesses have provoked a global economic crisis.
"It was the disconnect between the formal role played by the United States of America in the world economic system and its actual capabilities that was one of the main reasons for the current crisis," Medvedev told political and business leaders at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
"Russia today is a global player," Medvedev said. "We must recognize its responsibility for shaping the destiny of the world."
Russians have embraced this vision, and Putin and Medvedev enjoy strong popularity. But the country also suffers from rampant corruption and a focus on quick profits. Independent media have been squashed and dissent is being silenced. Beyond the new class of super-rich nourished by oil and gas prices, widespread poverty lingers.
