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Russophobia is a dislike or fear of Russia, Russians or Russian culture. Russophobia is the opposite of Russophilia

The term is used in two basic contexts: in ethnic conflicts involving Russians, and in international politics.Russophobia is often accused by Russian media or nationalist in relation to disputes of historical nature with countries that were under Russian occupation.

Politics

Dislike of Russians, which is sometimes described as "Russophobia", is sometimes a backlash of the policy of Russification in the times of Imperial Russia and Soviet Union and, in some non-Russian parts of the Russian Federation (e.g. Chechnya), a backlash of the policies of modern Russian government. However, some authors assert that Russophobia has a long tradition and already existed many centuries before Russia became one of major powers in Europe. <

"Partition of Russia is fundamental for our policy in the East. Our position will depend on who will take part in that partition. Poland shouldn't stand aside in this remarkable moment of history. Our task is to prepare ourselves both morally and materially. Our principal aim is weakening and defeat of Russia" (report of the Polish General Staff, 1938, «Z dziejow stosunkow polsko-radzieckich. Studia i materialy», T.III. Warszawa, 1968, S. 262, 287.).

Russian nationalism and imperialism often used alledged dislike of Russians as pretext for its policies and aggression. . For example in the 18th century, before Poland was partitioned by Russia , Catherine the Great tried to portay Poles and Poland as hostile to Russia: "The Polish people hate us so deeply, that there is no other way out for us and our security, than to subordinate and to control them"

During the 19th century the competition with Russia for the spheres of influence and colonies (see e.g. The Great Game and Berlin Congress) was a possible reason for the Russophobia in Great Britain. British propaganda of the time portrayed Russians as uncultivated Asiatic barbarians. These views spread to other parts of the world and are frequently reflected in literature of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Although Russia had no interest in the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, during the decisive Russian action against independence movement of Hungarians in 1849, it later begun to adopt a version of Panslavic ideology that envisioned Russian Empire ruling over all nations of Slavic origins.]. Thus the Austro-Hungarian elite started to see Russia and Russians as the main enemy and the initiator of its potential collapse. The public opinion became more and more radicalized and Russophobic, the common anti-Russian stereotypes fell not only on a fertile ground, but became also manifolded using a pseudo-scientific framework.

In the 1930s, Adolf Hitler attempted to strengthen the Russophobe stereotypes with his racial theory of subhumans, in part to rationalize and justify the German invasion of Russia and the atrocities committed against its populace.

The Red Scare in the United States, the Cold War, and the associated negative portrayal of "Russkies" in cinema and fiction significantly contributed to Russophobia among Americans.

The history of the influence or direct control of the Russian dominated USSR over Eastern Europen countries may feed the Russophobia there. Russian media often accuse those countries of violations of the human rights of the Russian minority.

On the individual level it is difficult to draw a distinction from a casual xenophobia, observable for any two peoples living side by side or even intermixed and historically involved in armed conflicts. Also it might not be always easy to separate unpopular in Russia actions caused by rational political concerns of its neighbors from the actions caused by an irrational Russophobia. The opinions on these mater are highly subjective and may vary a great deal between different historians.

==International==

"Need, hunger, lack of comfort have been the lot of Russians for centuries. No false compassion, as their stomaches are perfectly extensible. Don't try to impose the German standards and to change their style of life. Their only wish is to be ruled by the Germans. Help yourselves, and the God will help you!" ("12 precepts for the German officer in the East", 1941, )

"Russophobia" and "Russophobic" are the terms used to denote anti-Russian sentiments in politics and literature.

In modern international politics this term is also used more specifically to describe cliches and outdated attitudes towards modern Russia preserved from the times of the Cold War. Many prejudices, whether justified or simply introduced as elements of political war against the Soviet Union, are still observed in the discussions of the relations with Russia.

See also

• Anti-Slavism

References

• The Genesis of Russophobia in Great Britain
• Anatol Lieven, "Against Russophobia", World Policy Journal, Volume XVII, No 4, Winter 2000/01; a review of a modern Russophobia in international politics, available online.
• New York Times After Centuries of Enmity, Relations Between Poland and Russia Are as Bad as Ever, July 3, 2005 (subscription may be required for full text)
• Sergei Yastrzhembsky: Russophobia Still Rampant
• More Russophobia in International Press
• Corruption, Russophobia Weigh on Poland

• Russian society
• Foreign relations of Russia
• Anti-state sentiment