Strategic Thinking About the Russian Far East: A Resurgent Russia Eyes Its Future in Northeast Asia.

The article explores the potential for economic development in Russia's Far East. The region's wealth of energy resources and relative proximity to East Asia are noted. The author argues that the successful development of Russia's Far East will be determined by a $3.9 billion infrastructure development project in the city of Vladivostok. Several other factors which could transform Vladivostok into a major municipal center including the government's choosing the city to be the location for the 2012 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, making the city a terminus for a proposed Russian oil pipeline, or creation of a transportation and energy route from Russia to North Korea, are outlined. Ineffective governance in Vladivostok is also discussed.