Russia vs. United States Over the years, the United States and Russia have fought against malicious factions that threatened the stability of their democracies. Russia has come a long way over the last century, enduring a series of different phases that have completely desecrated any power Russia may have had parallel to the rest of the world. The United States, however, has evolved into a prosperous world power that has led to new respect from many other nations. Both Russia and the United States have struggled in the past to maintain a significant cultural commitment to the preservation of specific aspects of their respective democracies. As a relatively new democracy, Russian citizens have different perceptions and expectations of government than citizens of the United States. With new freedoms and liberties, Russians struggle to grasp the concept of capitalism and participation in government. To preserve strong features of democracy, such as the right to vote or free speech, a country's voters must respect and view their government positively. They must have confidence that the government is working for their best interests. Physically, the United States and Russia have been greatly influenced by their geography. Historically, the context of Russia and the United States is in stark contrast. Traditionally, Russians have difficulty believing in the stability of their government as it has changed numerous times. Geography has had a profound influence on the Russian psyche. Russia is a land open to invasions and the elements, as it does not have major natural barriers. In the southeast, there are large plains that allow easy entry for any would-be conqueror... middle of paper... this mood is visible throughout the nation's geography, history and traditions. Russia, despite struggling with geography, history and traditional values, has made a significant effort to preserve the strong features of democracy in recent decades. Bibliography Grudzinska-Gross, Irena. The scar of the revolution: Custine, Tocqueville and the romantic imagination. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991. Gustafson, Thane, and Daniel Yergin. Russia 2010. New York: Random, 1993. Heywood, Andrew. Political ideas and concepts. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994. McDaniel, Tim. The agony of the Russian idea. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996. Melvin, Neil. Russians beyond Russians. London: Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1995. Rzhevsky, Nicholas. Cambridge Companion to Modern Russian Culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press