The coherence of economic development, the exchange of experience and gaining leading positions in world and political life have become the reason that prompted the governments of the leading world powers with significant economic potential to unite in an international club known to the public as the "Big Seven countries." But the "Big Seven" was not formed as an international organization in its usual sense, but as a voluntary union of the participating countries. Its activity is not bound by contractual obligations, is not based on any charter and does not have a secretariat. The decisions developed by the club are advisory, and are not accepted for execution on a mandatory basis. It was a rule that participants in informal forums held annually among top officials discuss global problems of humanity and develop a common line of behavior on certain issues.
In principle, the G-7 of the participating countries can be called the G-8 for 15 years after Russia joined the G7 club. But the familiar name is firmly entrenched behind traditional forums of governments, and is still used in everyday life and even in economic and political literature.
The countries of the "Big Seven" are conditionally divided into three centers: American (USA, Canada), Japanese (Japan) and West European (Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia, France). Each of the centers has a powerful economic potential and is able to influence the political situation in the world. By developing coordinated approaches to environmental issues, energy policy, external debt, industrial development, the participating countries ensure the stability of life in vast territories. That was until recently. The global economic crisis has gradually begun to reduce the effectiveness of the leading superpowers to a continuous decline.
Over the past few years, experts have repeatedly expressed concern about the prospects for the development of the global economy. According to their disappointing forecasts, the G7 countries will steadily demonstrate low GDP growth rates for a long time to come. Moreover, in the international arena, the G7 club will be forced to withstand fierce competition with dynamically developing countries, which, in turn, are combined into large economic groups. Over the next half century, the level of GDP per capita in the BRICS countries (the economic union of Russia, India, China, Brazil and South Africa) will increase almost fourfold, against less than a double increase in the G7. And against this background, the role of modern Russia in the global economy becomes interesting.
According to experts, the Russian Federation is capable of surpassing the Western G7 center in the rate of economic growth. There are several scenarios of world economic development to choose from, where Russia is assigned far from the last role. A successful geographical position, simultaneous membership in the BRICS and in the "Big Seven" allows you to maintain the necessary balance of power with a reasonable approach. And the representation among the most powerful countries gives any state a strong voice and influence. Regardless of who will be the winner in the unfolding competition - the Big 7 countries or the developing world, Russia may well be in a win-win situation. But for this, over the next 10-20 years, it is necessary to prevent gross political miscalculations using a flexible strategy of economic growth.
It is worth noting that the G7 countries are reluctant to give up their positions, the place of which is determined by the logic of post-war development and world economic history. But developing countries are gradually transforming themselves from second-rate cheap goods into economically mature and dangerous competitors in the global market. In proportion to the growth of the economy, cardinal changes are taking place in the political confrontation, which allows the developing world to gain weight in the eyes of its more wealthy rivals. Therefore, Russia has to make a serious choice on the path to economic well-being and political improvement.
