The Russo-Serb embrace is all about geopolitical energy priorities.

With Boeing and Airbus receivingmost ofthe attention, China is slipping by unnoticedwitha bold new commercial aircraft production project.

Freeing up economies around the world will make them more efficient and--unlike energy restriction--has almost no downsides.

This Outlook elucidates the key elements of Russian president Dmitri Medvedev's modernization campaign, listing the areas where it is badly needed but has not been applied, and suggests tests for its implementation.

Vladimir Putin's re-centralization raised the center of political gravity to the very top at precisely the time when the Russian state will need every available ounce of stability and maneuverability.

In the past nine years the Russian middle class has done well, but a great deal could be done to further facilitate this success.