Infrastructure as a condition of Russian state capacity

Was Russian decline inevitable even if Vladimir Putin left office?

Not inevitably. The outcome depends on several choices, especially whether Russia invests in a more integrated infrastructure network.

Russia's long-term trajectory cannot be reduced to one leader or treated as predetermined. Physical networks shape how effectively a large state moves people, goods, resources, and military power. Russian infrastructure was strong in some places and patchy in others, making integration a strategic problem. Durable material systems therefore form an important part of state capacity.