Russia today presents potentially lucrative business opportunities and markets for any company interested in expanding internationally. Together with the opportunities and potential profits, however, Russia also presents formidable challenges and risks to any Western or American company considering doing business there. The purposes of this thesis are: to explain how Russia's unique and tortured history has impacted the business culture of modern Russia; to describe the primary business risks that any Western company entering Russia will face; and to offer recommendations to any Western company considering doing business there.