Some topical problems of post-Soviet Russia’s political modernization and geopolitical self-identification, as well as the main foreign-policy factors influencing these processes, have been analyzed in the article. A number of most significant rhythms of international political and economic development that used to influence the processes of Russian society’s modernization in the past and go on influencing them at present, figure as the subject examined. It has been demonstrated that the character of political changes in Russia depends to a considerable extent on which is the phase that the world economy and the international political system find themselves within at a given moment. The authors come to the conclusion that under the conditions of the modern world, Russia needs a diversified geopolitical and geoeconomic orientation, one that takes into consideration the modernization experience of European countries, of Japan, China etc. The nearest and more remote prospects of Russia’s political modernization have been discussed, with due regard for international development rhythms.