The fascination with the collapse of the Soviet Union as a geopolitical superpower and a decline of Russia to the level of a developing country, as well as its uneven road to capitalism and the unclear prospects for economic, social and political development of the largest country in the world populated by 145 million people, has become a cause for great concern among the international community, governments, academia and the Russian people. A variety of research have been produced in an attempt to understand the transition processes in Russia and to better assist the country with external aid and advice.