4th largest economy in the World, sanctions are having little effect. That's not the metrics of a backward country. Expansionist? No. The largest country in the world by landmass, which has the largest resources of minerals and metals. You're confusing the Soviet regimes of the past with the current country. One can easily argue with facts that the West is far more repressive, especially in current circumstances. Of course, the people support their government, that usually happens when they are under attack by outside forces! Look at where progressive policies have gotten the west thus far! The majority of people in the west don't support much of the neoliberal, globalist agenda and our economies are in ruin. Most of which were self created.