Diploma Thesis from the year 2014 in the subject Economics – International Economic Relations, grade: 1, University of Linz (International Management), language: English, abstract: This diploma thesis provides an overview of the contemporary debate about the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the BRIC countries with a special focus on Russia. Conclusions are based on historical perspectives showing that there are huge country-specific divergences and concepts of supporting SMEs. In contrast to multi-national corporations (MNCs), which are not uncommonly supported by the government of the fast-developing country they stem from respectively they are entering and can continue their triumph easily, SMEs often face tremendous difficulties to establish themselves. While the engine of the economy of industrialized countries are SMEs, it seems as if BRICs, especially Russia, struggle to provide appropriate incentives for the foundation of domestic SMEs in order to boost the economic driving force which interviews.