The Russian mindset very well shaped the world after WWII, much like China's mindset is re-shaping the world today.
An interesting thing I've noticed (i've been metaphorically crucified over this) is that if Hitler hadn't turned on Stalin when he thought he had the rest of the eurpeans defeated, the Axis may have well won WWII... luckily he turned on him too early splitting his forces, making him fight a war on two fronts. And I think we all know that a War fought on two fronts isn't easily won.
I'm a WWII freak myself, I especially like looking at Russian History from that time period, and the "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" thing that Stalin had going on.
Plus the rise of power of the Socialist movement beforehand, Beloshevik (sp?) Revolution. I actually have a book about the rise of soviet communism by a russian who worked in the government during the transitional period between the csars and the socialist state.