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Revision as of 10:04, 10 September 2005 by Marskell (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Russophobia is a negative attitude towards Russia or Russians.
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", in many cases is a backlash of the policy of Russification in the times of Imperial Russia and Soviet Union. 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.
The accusations of Russophobia are often brought up by the Russian government and press in connection to the Eastern Europe that was under the influence or direct control of Moscow, sometimes heavy-handed, for the most of the 20th century.
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.
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In modern international politics this term is also used more specifically to describe cliches and outdated attitudes towards modern Russia preserved from the times of the Cold War.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.
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