I vaguely remember SWOT Analysis from an Introduction to Management class back in college, so I had to consult wiki on this one:

SWOT Analysis, is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective

Wiki goes on to define SWOT:

Strengths: attributes of the organization that are helpful to achieving the objective.

Weaknesses: attributes of the organization that are harmful to achieving the objective.

Opportunities: external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objective.

Threats: external conditions that are harmful to achieving the objective.


The actors that I will analyze are Russia, the United States, and the European Union. Besides Russia, I don't claim to be an expert on any other region, but don't hold that against me. I mean, I am an American and I sporadically check-out what's going on in this country (and I do work at an investment bank in Midtown Manhattan so a lot of stuff happens around me). I'm also fairly aware of the European Union, having traveled there on several occasions. My dad was also born in the European Union.

Today I shall begin with Strengths. Once more, Strengths will only identify positives inside the organization. Hopefully SWOT Analysis will be completed this week; it all depends on the weather.

Russia

∞ Fast growing middle class
∞ Availability of fossil fuels
∞ Availability of many strategic metal and mineral resources
∞ Financial resources (F/X reserves, stabilization fund)
∞ Economic stability (high budget and trade surpluses)
∞ Strong economic and industrial growth
∞ Science and technology advancements and potential
∞ Well-planned and successful educational system
∞ Nuclear deterrent
∞ Geostrategic location dominating the Eurasian landmass
∞ Strategic relations with Old Europe, Central Asia, China, India, and many developing nations
∞ Earned historical trademark of defeating emperors and world conquerors

The United States

∞ High standards of living
∞ Expanding population
∞ Availability of fossil fuels (albeit the exploitation of which is severely limited by the government)
∞ Availability of many strategic metal and mineral resources
∞ Food production
∞ Monopoly share of many industries globally, including entertainment, consumer products, IT, pharmaceuticals, and finance
∞ Proven ability to print and/or borrow an infinite amount of finances to keep "party" of mammoth budget and trade deficits going
∞ Domination, along with the European Union, of the international financial and political institutions formed after World War II
∞ Political stability
∞ Science and technology advancements and potential
∞ Nuclear deterrent
∞ Conventional military deterrent
∞ Geostrategic location making invasion impossible
∞ Strategic relations with the UK, New Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia

The European Union

∞ High standards of living
∞ Virtually "borderless" (territorial expansion is totally possible)
∞ Food production
∞ Strong market shares in several niches, like premium autos, luxury apparel, mobile phones, etc.
∞ Economic stability (shaky and not on par with Russia, but good for now)
∞ Domination, along with the United States, of the international financial and political institutions formed after World War II
∞ Pretension of moral authority after American embarrassments in Iraq and Guantanamo
∞ Geostrategic location close to key energy exporters - Russia, North Africa, and the Middle East
∞ Ability to "split" foreign policy; half the group is friendly with Russia, the other half with the United States

This entry was posted by Colleen, on 6.10.2008. You can leave your response.