Why is Russia always historically lagging behind the rest of the civilized world?

Question

what is it about the history of those people that make them always be always isolated and lagging behind other world leaders....when they certainly have the size and resources to be another advanced leader of the enlightened world.

The people were oppressed before under the czars, under communism, and even post communism.

What will have to happen for Russia to be just another strong enlightened democratic country that is free?

Answer 1

Would you name some strong, free, enlightened democratic countries.  

Answer 2

I don't think Russia is lagging behind the "civilized" world. After so many years of recession, it still can beat most of the countries in the world. And it is going back on its track now.

Russia is already a democratic country, maybe not a "free democratic" country by what you mean. It's a democratic country that doesn't listen to NATO order, like Iran is also a democratic country.

If one day Russia starts follow NATO order, then it will become something like India today - not a threat but never really getting approriate respect.

Answer 3

When you'll be able to build a rocket or a plane at least twice worse than Russian, ask again.

Answer 4

Well for that to happen then the whole mindset of the people of russia would have to change. Their has been little real appetite for true democracy , except from a few brief periods, and even less democracy has ever been introduced. It takes alot more than 20 years for a country that has no history of democracy to become fully democratic, it doesn't work like that.

Russians are fine with limited democracy because at the moment they see Putin as putting Russia back as a powerful nation and at the same time halving poverty number and GDP increasing 7 fold.

Plus Russia is very vast and spacious, very hard with a country with so many diffirent cultures.

Answer 5

Russia does not lag, she simply goes on unusual ways, which sometimes slow and inefficient...

Answer 6

Bad cycles of government and corruption