I guess if Americans where more clever back in the 90s now Russia would have been a grateful part of pax Americana. I believe that Americans thought that they have finished with the Russians and they where not even imagining that they would dethroned by economic leadership in this millennial let alone before 2020.
Some time I wonder if Russia positing is really screwed up.
It has to face combined onslaught of US and Europe .....while its own partner in CSTO are quite weak and the only help it gets is from China that too only diplomatically nothing more.
While US and Europe can at whim change regiem , Impose Unilateral Economic Blockade like in Iran and go about doing Nasty things all over with impunity without any fear of blow back.
Not to mention the entire Media in Western circle never gets tired showing Russia as the big devil.
Economically Russia is too weak to do any thing like impose sanctions and perhaps nothing short of a total war can it hope to win.
a) You should not make the mistake to consider EU a coherent economic force
b) You should not make the mistake to consider NATO a coherent military force
c) Yeah like you said USA has the initiative no doubt. After all it is coming from uncontested leadership just 10 years ago. But like you say the key idea is money and this doesn't look good for USA midterm let alone long term. Many think tanks expect USA in 2050 to be third behind India as well.
d) Yeah Russia must be more principled in cases like Iran, Ukraine, North Korea etc. Reacting in response is always much more difficult. If you give time for the Western media to build the case then is too late to change the image. When if you start like "N.Koreans are cool guys who are progressive and independent and hence and forth" then you per-occupy public image.
It really need strong allies Economically and Militarily.
I wonder if Russia-China , NATO like alliance will work ?
Or make SCO a CSTO equivalent ...so China Leads SCO and CSTO is lead by Russia.
Its not that China too is happy with US and its constant poking and threatening posture.
Clearly Chinese play the game of world domination but at the rate they progress and at the rate US strength degenerate they don't even need to risk anything at this point. Yet if Russia play the pendulum like Yanukovich back and forth until the end probably when she wants will find that is difficult to hold a stable position. Russia will never be adored in West for too many reasons to mention here. So you need to create your own world I guess.