I think the real goal of the superpowers (USA, Russia, China, Western Europe) will be to keep the craziest loons in the world (IE. Islamo-facists, Tin-pot Commie thugs like Chavez and short guy in North Korea, and any other fleas) at bay.

Russia knows that they don't have ownership of the North Pole. The whole thing was a propaganda stunt to keep the fringe element happy.

I think the majority of the Russina Government is much more Pragmatic than you give them credit for. They realize they don't race a real threat from either the USA or China. There are too many pragmatists in the USA and China to make them a real threat also.

China will slowly become more Capitalist and more Democratic, and the pragmatism will come out as will it in Russia.

Again, the only real threat to any of the superpowers is the terrorist state power-hungry fools who think they have the ability to use force to get their way.

Also, the superpowers will be big-brother ala 1984 when any tin-pot gets out of hand.