A nation must think before it acts.
In 1881, Dostoevksy famously asked, ‘‘What is Asia to us?’’1 Today, Asia could well ask, ‘‘What is Russia to us?’’ Russia remains in danger of being marginalized or worse in Asia. Its leaders are aware of East Asia’s growing importance in world politics and the increasing challenges facing Russia there. Beyond the question of whether Russia can enjoy an Asian role commensurate with its size, capabilities, and potential is the question of whether it can even maintain its own Far East territory as efforts are made to fully marketize that region’s economy.