It is not often that articles by major government officials, seasoned politicians and serious politicalanalysts are found together in one book. The unifying theme that brings them together is Russia and the preoccupation with preserving its national «Ego», which they communicate through politics, economics and in the sphere of values.

Their worries are plausible for in today`s world one country, the USA, is striving to consolidate its own sovereignty by the way of denying others the right to be them– selves. At the same time the European countries are torn between their traditional inclination towards self-dependent existence and an effort of establishing a solid «Ego» for a unified Europe, a Europe without Russia. All the authors are united in understanding the fact that the preservation of Russian sovereignty is only possible in an active voice, i. e. through its reaffirmation, on the path of setting ambitious targets and pursuing them within a democratic model of development. Such a complex set of objectives has never yet been achieved in Russia`s millennial history.