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| '''Russophobia''' is a dislike or fear of ], ] or ]. Russophobia is the opposite of ] | '''Russophobia''' is a dislike or fear of ], ] or ]. Russophobia is the opposite of ] | ||
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| Some people attribute the policy policy of ], initiated by ] chief of state ] or even rhetoric of ] to the manifestations of these sentiments. | Some people attribute the policy policy of ], initiated by ] chief of state ] or even rhetoric of ] to the manifestations of these sentiments. | ||
| During the ] another the competition with Russia for the spheres of influence and colonies was a possible reason for the Russophobia in ]. British propaganda of the time portrayed ] as uncultivated infidels and ]tic |
During the ] another the competition with Russia for the spheres of influence and colonies was a possible reason for the Russophobia in ]. British propaganda of the time portrayed ] as uncultivated infidels and ]tic barbarians. These views spread to other parts of the world and are frequently reflected in literature of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. | ||
| ] attempted to strengthen the russophobe stereotypes with his racial theory of ]s. Although a few of the people who dislike ] might support ], most of those living today are not related to that and do not consider ] to be subhumans. | ] attempted to strengthen the russophobe stereotypes with his racial theory of ]s. Although a few of the people who dislike ] might support ], most of those living today are not related to that and do not consider ] to be subhumans. | ||
| The ] in the ], the ], and the associated negative portrayal of "Russkies" in cinema and fiction significantly contributed to Russophobia among Americans. | The ] in the ], the ], and the associated negative portrayal of "Russkies" in cinema and fiction significantly contributed to Russophobia among Americans. | ||
Revision as of 07:17, 8 November 2005
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.
Ethnic
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, it would be wrong to see that as the only or main reason. Russophobia has a long tradition and already existed many centuries before Russia became one of major powers in Europe.
Some claim that the history of the long Russo-Polish conflict for the heritage of the ancient Kievan Rus (which Poland eventually lost) and the loss of Polish imperial status contributed to these dislikes. In the 18th century, when Poland was not yet partitioned, Catherine the Great was known for her words: "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" . Some people attribute the policy policy of Prometheism, initiated by Polish chief of state Józef Piłsudski or even rhetoric of Zbigniew Brzezinski to the manifestations of these sentiments.
During the 19th century another the competition with Russia for the spheres of influence and colonies was a possible reason for the Russophobia in Great Britain. British propaganda of the time portrayed Russians as uncultivated infidels and 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.
Adolf Hitler attempted to strengthen the russophobe stereotypes with his racial theory of subhumans. Although a few of the people who dislike Russians might support Nazism, most of those living today are not related to that and do not consider Russians to be subhumans.
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 USSR over Eastern Europen countries may feed the Russophobia there. Some people of Eastern Europe blame the repression during the Stalin era and economical stagnation afterwords on the local Russian population. That, according to some Russian media reports causes violations of the human rights of the Russian diaspora residing in those countries (said to be particularly grievous in the Baltic Republics, Ukraine, and Moldova).
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.
Religious Aspects
Russophobia is closely connected with religious aspects. In the centuries following the East-West Schism of 1054, the Roman Catholic Church led several efforts aimed at gaining control of Russian territory and converting its inhabitants into Catholicism (see, for example, the Northern Crusades of the Teutonic Knights and Polonization in Ukraine and Belarus). Orthodox Christians were vilified as heathens and heretics, and Orthodoxy itself labeled backwards and barbarian. Today, a similar anti-Orthodox view can be seen in some media accounts seeking to vilify Serbs due to their involvement in the Yugoslav wars.
International
"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
References
- 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)
- 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.