Through the history of the power struggle this book analyzes how two fundamentally different types of social structures had developed in Russia and in Europe. In Russia the political system formed as a Power Pyramid in which power is based on coercive force of the state apparatus. This allowed Russia to mobilize its resources and exert influence on the world?s political affairs far beyond its economic and population potential. The book examines the main features of the Russian power system, describes how it transformed and revived itself through the centuries of tumultuous Russian history, and analyses the pathways that can lead to the transition of Russia to a democratic, western-type society. This book should give the reader a new outlook on the events of Russian past and present, help to better explain the current state of affairs in Russia, and maybe help predict the future course of events.