In the world you can find a huge number of phobias, which are even difficult to list. There is a fear of spiders, heights, loneliness, etc. Among the phobias, there are a huge number of absurd ones: fear of long words, gaining knowledge, buttons, gifts, and so on.
In a more global sense, there are special phobias. For example, xenophobia is the fear or even hatred of something alien, the perception of this as danger and hostility. Now it is believed that this phobia has been elevated to the rank of worldview. It is xenophobia that gives us an explanation of what "Russophobia" is, the definition of this concept and the history of interpretation.
What is this
It's easy to guess that this term associated with Russia and the Russian population. In addition, this concept is not just an interpretation of a certain fear, but even now it can be considered a phenomenon that contains a whole collection of ideas and concepts.
Russophobia is a feeling towards Russia or Russians, expressed by hostility, dislike, prejudice and suspicion. Many experts believe that this term is a special trend in ethnophobia. Others are absolutely sure that, looking at other national phobias, Russophobia has nevertheless become a kind of ideology that keeps in itself historical context, has its own structure, terminology, genesis, development, and even a special manifestation.
Origin
The word "Russophobia" became known thanks to the Russian poet Fyodor Tyutchev. Some researchers believe that she began to use this concept, opposing it with another term - pan-Slavism.
As for the ideology itself, it can be seen as early as the 16th century. Then Lithuanians and Poles were engaged in this kind of propaganda, which became more active against the Russian state. And among them were involved politicians, historians, writers, after and clergy. This behavior was caused by historical events. Many wanted to take possession of the lands of Rus'. In addition, at that time, the confessional struggle between Catholics and Orthodox begins. King Sigismund can be safely attributed to the aggressive Russophobes of that time.
Also, the so-called European Russophobia began to appear here, which was caused by the fact that in the 16th century Russia became an opening for Western Europe. Many began to learn about the Slavs, their traditions, some treated this with interest, some, on the contrary, with horror. Now you can find archival records in which foreigners who came to Russia at that time recorded their negative reviews.
Yet at that time Russophobia was not transformed into an ideology or a system. Perhaps then the ideology was either not formed at all, or created, but did not manifest itself because of the fear of the Turks: the Europeans saw Russia as an ally in containing the Ottoman Empire.
Formation
But already in late XVIII century, changes are taking place, and it becomes clear that Russophobia is a system that works for the hostile policy of the state against Russia. First she appears in France, after the defeat of Napoleon, she goes to England. It is believed that the system itself was fully formed there. It reaches its apogee already during the Crimean War and the Hungarian Revolution.
Now, analyzing historical events, many researchers believe that this behavior of Western countries was due to the fact that they tried to indicate to the Russian population that they do not live according to the European “norm”, that they are not a Western-type state.
Despite all the hypotheses, it is difficult to understand when the term Russophobia as a system was formed. There are researchers who believe that the book of Robert Wilson was the impetus. There is an idea that it was the policy of Nicholas I that became the impetus for the formation of an entire ideology against the state and its population. Many European powers then accepted Russia as an enemy to their interests.
Classification
Now many people understand and know the word "Russophobia". What this means is not difficult to guess, but when studying this concept, it turned out that there is an indicative classification. The fact is that there are two concepts for dividing Russophobia into types. The first belongs to Semyon Charny, the second to Andrey Fursov.
So, according to the first expert, Russophobia can be grassroots and elite. The first relates to mass system, it is a sharp attitude towards Russians, which comes from a wide section of society. But the elite has a political character. It means anti-Russian actions that are carried out by a power or its region.
These views are not always parallel. Sometimes it happens that grassroots and elite Russophobia combine, thus forming a goal that leads to the elimination or expulsion of the people.
But Andrei Ilyich Fursov argues that Russophobia can be both an ideological system and simply be a sharp attitude towards Russians caused by certain events.
Aggression
The very concept of this phenomenon is understandable, but the causes of Russophobia are still impossible to pinpoint. In fact, there are three concepts. The first belongs to the historian Nikita Sokolov, who believed that the worldwide hostility towards Russia arose due to an aggressive foreign policy as modern state, and past systems.
It is also worth distinguishing between the condemnation of Russian policy and Russophobia in principle. His position was supported by the philosopher Alexander Tsipko. He believed that the emergence of such an ideology was caused by ill-conceived propaganda Russian authorities against fascism.
Fear
The next reason was competition. According to Yuri Pivovarov, Russophobia could be caused not only by competition, but also by traditional European xenophobia. Dmitry Rogozin added that in addition to all this, there is also dislike European nations to each other, hence the emergence of European Russophobia.
Another researcher suggested that hatred of Russians lives in Europe only thanks to the media, which in every possible way support it. And their similar attitude is again connected with the political and economic "competitions" of states.
Back to the past
The history of Russophobia can also name the third reason for the emergence of this concept - the cultural and ideological soil. It was caused by the fact that previously Western countries believed that Russians - barbarians who do not have a material culture, are also subject to autocracy.
These thoughts resumed their existence after the fall " iron curtain". Among other things, this attitude was fueled by the involvement of Russians and migrants in criminal activities.
In the 19th century, Russophobia of migrants began to be observed, who manifested themselves in the Russian-language media abroad. Now such a platform for expressing ideological views is the Internet.
Despite the rather alarming situation, some experts still believe that Russophobia is inapplicable to ordinary Europeans. The negative image that has been created for years against Russia is only the work of the media.
world view
Russophobia is a fairly broad concept, it can now manifest itself in different ways. For example, at the beginning of the 21st century, a survey was conducted among the inhabitants of the Earth. This worldwide study showed the attitude of all people on the planet to the G8 states. As a result, the most negative feelings people feel towards the USA and Russia.
There was an incident with a Swedish group that created a competition performance that was later called Russophobic. It had a pictorial row that showed the main stereotyped symbols associated with Russia: nesting dolls, a bear, Cossacks, etc. In addition, the words “Goodbye, Putin” or “Cheers, Lenin” sometimes sounded in the songs.
America
Russophobia in the world is operating system, especially considering latest events. This topic is very controversial. For example, the Congress of Russian Americans was held in the USA, who tried to protect the Russian people from the enmity of the whole world. Many journalists and researchers felt that American Russophobes were deliberately compromising the authorities because Russia was preventing their world domination.
Although there were those who, on the contrary, believed that people who support the current government of Russia are the most ardent Russophobes.
Western Europe
Everything is more or less clear with European Russophobia. She, as mentioned earlier, appeared in the XVIII century. Then the Russian Empire became something new for Europeans. They perceived the population of Russia as cruel, alien. In addition, Russians were often called barbarians.
True Russophobes
Perhaps it is not surprising that Germany and Austria are the most ardent fans of Russophobia. Initially, everything was connected with Slavophobia, which was promoted by Austria. Well, later, especially during the Great Patriotic War, Germany is the source of this ideology.
The policy of Russophobia was very widely deployed here. The Third Reich considered it his duty to annex the lands of Eastern Europe, and the local population is not just deported or assimilated, but also destroyed.
The Nazis were convinced that the Russians were the least Germanized people, so by 1942 a plan was developed that was supposed to lead the world to the complete destruction of the Russian population. The Germans were supposed to evict almost the entire Russian people from the occupied territory in Western Siberia. Some were nevertheless subjected to Germanization. In addition, it is believed that the very concept of "resettlement" was a substitute for another - "destruction".
neighborly relations
Russophobia of the Eastern European peoples seems to many to be only a myth, although it was noticed among representatives in the European Parliament. Also, some believe that such sentiments are associated with the "Americanization" of the Slavs.
At home
It is difficult to judge "domestic" Russophobia. Some politicians believe that such behavior of the people is part of national consciousness, also confirms the presence of "haters" among public figures.
Historically, Russophobia in Russia appears in mid-nineteenth century. Fedor Tyutchev spoke about her. During the Soviet era, many works by Russian authors were accepted by the public as anti-Russian. In the early 90s of the twentieth century, this ideology was noticed among the "non-Russian" population of the country. Especially among the intelligentsia, which had negative feelings towards the culture of the state.
Russophobia- biased, hostile, suspicious, hostile attitude towards Russians and/or Russia; a special case of xenophobia, is a specific direction in ethnophobia.
Also known is the opposite term "Russophilism" - love for everything Russian, for Russia, for Russian culture, as well as for the Russians themselves.
Fedor Ivanovich Tyutchev. Portrait by Aleksandrovsky For the first time the word "Russophobia" occurs in 1867, in a letter from the great Russian poet and diplomat Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev to his daughter. Tyutchev's remark turned out so well that it can be inserted into modern articles without correcting a single word in it:
“This is Russophobia of some Russian people - by the way, very revered. They used to tell us, and they really thought so, that in Russia they hated lack of rights, the lack of freedom of the press, etc., etc., because it was precisely because they love Europe so dearly that it undoubtedly everything that is not in Russia. And what do we see now? To the extent that Russia, striving for greater freedom, asserts itself more and more, these gentlemen's dislike for her only intensifies. And on the contrary, we see that no violations in the field of justice, morality, and even civilization, which are allowed in Europe, have in no way lessened the predilection for it. In a word, in the phenomenon that I have in mind, there can be no talk of principles as such, only instincts act here, and it is precisely in the nature of these instincts that one should understand.
Rise of Russophobia in the West
Russophobia as a direction of ideology arose in the West in the 16th century, which was associated with the expansionist policy of Poland, which sought to subjugate the lands in the East (that is, the Russian lands).
Poland was the closest major country to Russia Catholic country, and a significant part of the information about Muscovy came to Europe from the Poles, who worked hard to form in the West a negative image of the "barbaric" "Asian" Russia, with which Poland repeatedly fought during the 16th-17th centuries. Then these Russophobic ideas were picked up by other Western countries that came into conflict with Russia as its geopolitical positions strengthened in the 18th-20th centuries.
6 Most famous Russophobes in the history of Russia
Chevalier d'Eon, aka Mademoiselle de Beaumont (1728-1810)
French Secret agent, a famous swordsman, transvestite, spent the first half of his life as a man, and the second half as a woman. The question of the Chevalier's true gender remains open.
According to the publishers, d'Eon "discovered" in St. Petersburg and took to France the so-called. This falsification was published on French in 1812 (immediately after the collapse of Napoleon's invasion of Russia) in Lezure's book "On the growth of Russian power from its very beginning to 19th century". According to the publishers, the document was a strategic plan of action for the successors of Peter the Great for many centuries to come, with the goal of establishing world domination by Russia; the goal was "to get as close as possible to Constantinople and to the Indies." This fake was originally created in the political interests of the French ruling circles and then was widely used in anti-Russian propaganda of the 19th-20th centuries, especially during the wars (Crimean and World War I). The origin of the "testament" is not completely clear, but at least some historians believe that d'Eon, who spied on the Russian Empress Elizabeth (daughter of Peter I) and tried to upset the Russian-Austrian alliance, could really be involved in the fabrication of the original version of this fake .
Michal Sokolnicki (1760-1816)
Polish general, participant in the Russian-Polish war of 1792, the Kosciuszko uprising and the Napoleonic wars on the side of Napoleon.
Posted in February 1812 detailed plan attack on Russia and its subsequent dismemberment "On the ways of delivering Europe from the influence of Russia, and thanks to this - from the influence of England." IN last years it is believed that this document played a crucial role in the beginning of the war of 1812. In the summer of 1812, Sokolnitsky was seconded to Napoleon as the main "expert" on Russia, which he called in his essay the "Empire of Darkness". At the same time, Sokolnitsky himself willingly passed off typical Russophobic myths as real intelligence. Here, for example, is what he wrote, justifying the possibility of stirring up unrest in the outskirts of Russia:
"concerning Crimean Tatars, then they could easily be influenced with the help of their neighbors - the Tatars living in Lithuania. For all their ignorance and downtroddenness, these peoples are endowed with a certain natural ingenuity, and even a certain loftiness of feelings, which is not at all characteristic of the Russian nation.
It goes without saying that in Sokolnitsky's plan there was a place for Poland from sea to sea. However, real value This plan is that Napoleon, far from sympathizing with such grandiose Polish plans, nevertheless accepted the derogatory characteristics given by Sokolnitsky to Russia and its people at face value and, as a result, started the war of 1812.
Astolf de Custine (1790-1867)
French aristocrat and ardent monarchist, allegedly bisexual; gained fame by publishing his notes on Russia. "Kiustin is considered a classic of world Russophobia, its champion and record holder."
The author of the Russophobic book “Russia in 1839”, which was repeatedly republished in Europe, where he described Russia as a country of “barbarians” and “slaves”, “universal fear” and “bureaucratic tyranny”.
The author of the meme about Russia as a "prison of peoples", in which Tsar Nicholas I is the "taskmaster".
He accused Nicholas I of allegedly “mired in debauchery and dishonored a huge number of decent girls and women,” despite the fact that both contemporaries and historians consider Emperor Nicholas a man of extremely strict rules and a monogamous who loved his wife all his life.
He colorfully described the severe Russian frosts, although he traveled around Russia in the summer.
Charles Stratford-Canning, Viscount Stratford de Radcliffe (1786-1880)
English diplomat. Already by 1832 he had created such a reputation for himself that Nicholas I flatly refused to let him go to St. Petersburg when he was appointed ambassador to Russia.
Later, in 1841-1858. (with interruptions in 1847 and 1852-1853) was the ambassador to Turkey, where by all means he contributed to the beginning and growth of the Crimean War. Upon his retirement in 1858, he also wrote Russophobic articles on the Eastern Question.
Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895)
The founders of communism. For many years they lived and worked with all the conveniences in Britain - the center of world capitalism - calling from there for revolutions in their native Germany and in other countries. Because of a large number Russophobic passages in their works, in the Soviet Union (where Marx and Engels were considered the luminaries of science and the highest authorities) their complete works were never published.
They considered Russia the main obstacle to the implementation of their plans for a world revolution: “Slavic barbarians are natural counter-revolutionaries, special enemies of democracy” (Marx).
Engels created and spread the myth about the threat of pan-Slavism to the “civilized nations” of Europe: “this is an absurd, anti-historical movement that has set itself the goal of nothing less than how to subjugate the civilized West to the barbarian East, the city to the countryside, trade, industry, spiritual culture to primitive agriculture serf Slavs ... Behind this absurd theory was a formidable reality in the face of Russian Empire... in every step of which there is a claim to consider the whole of Europe as the property of the Slavic tribe.
Engels wrote about the need for "a ruthless life-and-death struggle against the treacherous, treacherous in relation to the revolution Slavs ... a war of extermination and unbridled terror." “Yes, the next world war will wipe out not only reactionary classes and dynasties, but also entire reactionary peoples from the face of the earth - and this will also be progress!”
Franz Joseph I (1830-1916)
Emperor of Austria, and later - of Austria-Hungary almost to the very end of the existence of the latter. In 1848 was very close to Russian Emperor Nicholas I, who considered Franz Joseph literally a son and even helped keep Austria from disintegrating during the Hungarian Revolution in 1848. Franz Joseph "repaid" for this during the Crimean War, demanding that Russia accept the terms of the ultimatum of the Western allies.
Soon, Austria was severely punished for betrayal by proxy - a significant part of the possessions in Italy was immediately taken away from the country that had lost its key ally, and then they were deprived of leadership in the German Union and turned into an unstable Austro-Hungarian confederation, but Franz Joseph did not calm down on this and accepted the most active participation in depriving Russia of any achievements following the results of Russian-Turkish war 1877-1878 All the time of his reign in Subcarpathian Rus and, especially, in Galicia, the persecution of Orthodoxy and local Russians continued. Under him, with the help of specially created departments of "history" of Lviv University and the NGO "Prosvita", the history and ideology of "Ukrainianism" was composed.
In 1908, by substituting an insufficiently cautious Russian foreign minister, he provoked the Bosnian crisis. In 1914, he became one of the instigators of the First World War, during which he committed the genocide of the Russian population of Galicia and Subcarpathian Rus. It is also famous for the fact that Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, the widow of Nicholas I, on her deathbed, in response to the priest’s call to forgive everyone, stated that "Yes, I forgive everyone except the Emperor of Austria!"
A number of human phobias are not related to specific subject or phenomenon, but implies a fear or negative attitude towards a particular culture, ethnic background. Russophobia falls into this category. The name consists of a fusion of two words - "Russian" and "fear". This phobia is a negative, dismissive, suspicious attitude towards all situations related to Russians or Russia. It is known that for the first time this term began to be used by Fedor Tyutchev, as a reaction to the emergence in Europe of a hostile attitude towards Russia. This was due to the intervention of Russian troops in the Hungarian revolution, which took place in Austria in 1848-1849. It is known that it was these events that caused the Russian Empire to be called the "gendarme of Europe."
Also, this species phobia has its own classifications. For example, there is Russophobia, due to the cultural and everyday soil, which arose in the West as a result of its own economic and cultural superiority. Usually, the prevailing perception of Russia in Western countries, for example, in Great Britain, America, Germany, is based on the opinion that the population of the country is barbaric, with a weak material culture. In addition, it was believed that there is a commitment to autocratic power, which is opposed to democratic governance. Further, when the Iron Curtain fell, this opinion again became relevant, it was expressed in a negative attitude towards Russian emigrants. Partly, this attitude was explained by the involvement of Russian-speaking emigrants in criminal structures - the Russian mafia, prostitution.
If we talk about Russophobia based on national liberation and liberal soil, then it is based on the idea of Russia as a force that suppresses and oppresses any manifestation of freedom, both internal and external. The Russians, on the other hand, appear to be agents of this force. There is also Russophobia, the basis for which is racial soil. For example, Nazi propaganda represented the Slavs, and Russians in particular, as an inferior race. Russophobia of emigrants is especially manifested in the Internet, where there is free communication. In particular, there are many political and other forums where Russophobia is visible in the existing comments. They are directed against all events taking place in Russia.
The causes of Russophobia have deep roots going back to antiquity. Foreigners have always been in Rus', and even in ancient times, in the opinion of the inhabitants of other states about Russia, who visited it in the fifteenth - seventeenth centuries, undisguised hatred and an unfriendly attitude are manifested. Already in those days, all the vices of humanity and the weaknesses that the Russian people had without exception were attributed to the Russian people. foreign travelers. Foreign chroniclers saturated their records and travel notes a huge number of all kinds of fiction, slanderous rumors about Russians, gossip. Based on this, their compatriots experienced a feeling of hostility and disgust towards Russia and its population, supporting the development of Russophobia in every possible way.
Historians believe that Russophobia should be distinguished into hostility towards Russians, associated with a certain situation, and Russophobia, which is an ideological developed system. For example, there are documents proving the existence of Russophobia since the beginning of the sixteenth century. It was at this time that Western Europeans began to discover Russia, and their curiosity was associated with horror caused by negative reviews about the country and people. But, it should be emphasized that the presence of a significant number of negative characteristics until the beginning of the nineteenth century did not have signs of a system. Therefore, there is an opinion that the cause of Russophobia, as a single point of view, arose later. Interestingly, in Russia today, Russophobia sometimes manifests itself in the most seemingly unexpected places. Its forms of manifestation are different. For example, after a series of terrorist attacks in the Moscow metro in 2010, inscriptions “Death to Russians” were found in the city.
The concept of the causes of Russophobia allows us to find ways to overcome it, although the origins of the occurrence are different, and sometimes do not have any logic. The hostile attitude towards Russians, as well as towards everything related to Russia, is explained by the inaccessibility of objective information, since there is a lack of cultural ties between Western countries and Russia. Also, there is no connection between the existing Russian diasporas and the local population within the countries. It is known that
in this case, it makes no sense to respond to the fact of Russophobia with reciprocal rejection, to reject a different culture, not taking into account its strong influence, and to create a vicious circle around one's own ethnic restrictions.
Experts believe that in modern conditions Russophobia can be overcome only if there are broad intercultural ties, including those of interstate significance. Any manifestation of Russophobia is considered as racism, which is a consequence of the Western worldview. As a rule, persons suffering from Russophobia do not demonstrate their phobia in certain situations, and try to somehow limit themselves. But exacerbations often occur, and then the patient has signs characteristic of any phobia. In the physical plane, this is dizziness, sweating, heart rhythm disturbance, shortness of breath. A person's arms and legs may tremble, and fainting often occurs, as blood pressure drops sharply. In addition, it seems to the Russophobe that something terrible awaits him, and a person can certain time lose the ability to control their actions.
Russophobia- this is a dismissive, biased, impartial, suspicious, unfriendly and even hostile-aggressive attitude towards Russians in particular or Russia as a whole. Russophobia is a separate manifestation, i.e. Russophobia is one of the directions of ethnophobia ( negative attitude to some ethnic groups).
Many scientists consider Russophobia, unlike other phobias, a manifestation of a specific ideology, consisting in a whole set of concepts and a set of ideas that have a certain structure, history of development, a system of concepts and their own characteristic manifestations.
Causes of Russophobia
To find ways to overcome a phobia, you need to study the origins of Russophobia, understand the reasons for its appearance and origin. The reasons that lead to Russophobia have rather deep roots. From time immemorial, there have always been visiting foreigners in Russia. Even in ancient times, in the 15th-17th centuries, foreigners developed an unfriendly opinion and dismissive attitude to Russia and the Russians. Even then, the Russian people were attributed all sorts of human vices and weaknesses of foreign citizens. Foreign chroniclers in their writings slandered the Russian citizens, saturated them with all sorts of fabrications, slander and gossip. Therefore, their compatriots were prejudiced against the citizens of Russia, they experienced a feeling of disgust and hostility towards them in particular and towards Russia as a whole, thereby supporting and cultivating Russophobia in every possible way.
Many scientists believe that this phobia should be divided into hostility towards Russian people, which is due to a certain situation, and phobia, which is an ideology. So, for example, according to historians, there is information, documented, about the existence of Russophobia since the beginning of the 16th century. This is due to the fact that it was in this century that the West began to discover the Russian state. And their curiosity was based on the horror that was caused by the opinions of foreigners who visited Russia about people in particular and about the country as a whole.
However, it should be emphasized that until the 19th century, the presence of a huge number of negative reviews and characteristics had no manifestations of consistency. Therefore, there is an opinion that the main reason for the emergence of Russophobia, as a common position, arose a little later. There are facts showing that Russophobia manifests itself in Russia itself, sometimes even in the most unexpected places. Its manifestations are very diverse. So, for example, after several acts of terrorism in 2010 carried out in the Moscow Metro, various inscriptions of such content as “death to the Russians” and others were found in the capital.
Today, there are three main causes of this type of phobia: on the basis of liberalism and the national liberation movement, a consequence of competition, and on the basis of cultural ideology.
The first reason has to do with the rather aggressive foreign policy first the Russian Empire, the USSR, and then the Russian Federation. Historian N. Petrov believes that many countries condemn the monstrous crimes of I. Stalin in particular and throughout Soviet power in general, as a result of which an incorrect judgment appears, which leads to Russophobia. And the philosopher A. Tsipko considered one of the reasons for the emergence of Russophobia to be a propaganda campaign Russian government in the field of combating any manifestations of fascism.
The second reason may be connected, according to D. Rogozin, with the vision of Russia as a rather large state, which can be dangerous for its neighbors. Also, Russophobia may be based on the hostility of European ethnic groups to each other.
And D. Chiesa noticed the background of Russophobia, skillfully preserved and artificially supported by the Western media, which he associated with political rivalry and economic competition between countries.
Cultural and ideological Russophobia arose on the basis of the Western intelligentsia’s dislike for Russian citizens. Russophobia is a consequence of the idea of the Western powers about their so-called economic superiority and cultural superiority. This is due, as a rule, to the fact that some Western countries perceived Russians as barbarians, who have a minimally developed culture and a tendency towards an autocratic model of government. Whereas Europe strives for a developed democratic society. With the collapse of the Union, this opinion gained momentum again, but it has already become associated with Russian emigrants or Russian citizens due to their involvement in criminals (“Russian mafia”, prostitution). Particularly noticeable is the manifestation of Russophobia in the media and in Internet comments directed against everything that is happening in Russia.
There is also an opinion that the origins of Russophobia should be sought in the genetically historical memory society. You can, for example, take the French and their former emperor Napoleon, who shamefully fled from Moscow. His once great army shamefully retreated from the Russian land. All these events of the past years have left an indelible mark on the memory of French citizens. And today it has become unimportant that it was the French who were the first to unleash the war, since at the level of national consciousness the Russian state continues to be associated with something dangerous and formidable. Germany can serve as an example.
History of Russophobia
Active propaganda against the Russian Empire was carried out by the Polish and Lithuanian governments, writers and historians, and then by the Jesuits. The reason for the emergence of such propaganda is the rivalry for the Russian lands. Also, such propaganda arose on the basis of the struggle between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. So, for example, King Sigismund 1 tried by any means to stop and prevent any political unions of Rus' in Europe. He tried to convince the Western monarchs that the Russians were not Christians, but ruthless barbarians who belonged to Asia and conspired with the Tatars and Turks to destroy the entire Christian world.
The origins of Russophobia date back to the time of the split between the Roman Empire and Constantinople due to religious disagreement. At the heart of Russophobia and rejection Orthodox Church lies the rejection by the West of the Christian East in general. Russia has always been referred to as renegades and schismatics.
It so happened that in the 16th century Europe began to discover Russian state. At that time, she still perceived Russia on the basis of the “foreign” principle. At first, Europe's dislike for Russia came from the realization that in the Russian state there is a different culture, alien and incomprehensible to Europeans, the Russian people themselves and their actions are also incomprehensible and alien to Europeans. She, with great curiosity, and sometimes with horror, explored traditions, got acquainted with customs and mores. Since the bulk of the population of Europe recognized Russia only from the descriptions of fellow tribesmen, and their descriptions and reviews were often negative, the opinion of the main masses was based on this. This is due to the fact that this is how humanity is arranged - it denies what it does not understand. And the West to this day does not understand the mysterious Russian soul, as a result of which it cultivates Russophobic sentiments in itself.
At the end of the 18th century and at the beginning of the 19th century, the Russophobic attitude was born as a system that causes a hostile-aggressive policy towards the Russian state by one country or another.
Initially, such sentiments appeared in France in 1815 after the failure of Napoleon's plans to seize foreign territories. Then, in the 20-40s of the 19th century, the British became infected with Russophobia. Historian A. Fursov characterizes systemic Russophobia as a psychohistorical weapon. The purpose of such weapons is to prove to themselves and the Russians that they are lagging behind in development, since it does not correspond to the Western version, thereby putting the Russians in a deliberately losing state of defense. The West considers its culture, its development, its traditions as a kind of standard, which the rest must comply with.
Some sources indicate that the emergence of Russophobia as a system began after the anti-liberal and militaristic policy of Nicholas 1. After a number of his successes in military operations, the Russian state began to cause fear and be perceived as a threat to the interests of some European powers.
However, the most dangerous manifestation of Russophobia is considered to be the internal worldview of the country with a Russophobic color. How can the whole world get rid of Russophobia if the Russians themselves do not respect their people, their traditions, the history of the state. For a Russian person, there is no such thing as the Motherland. For him, the Motherland is where he will feel good. This position is incomprehensible to Europeans.
The most important problem of modern Russian society is mass ignorance, ignorance of its history, disrespect for the history of the state. Ignorance always leads to doubt, to exposure to other people's thoughts and ideas, to the influence of other people's traditions and neglect of one's own traditions and culture. For this reason, the phenomenon of Russophobia is born in the Russian state itself and in the minds of a Russian citizen.
Most historians agree that the origins of Russophobia are hidden in the very national consciousness of Russians. This is evidenced by the huge number of Russophobes living in Russia itself, as well as among well-known public Russian leaders. This position also proves the special Russian mentality, which is based on the desire for harsh self-criticism.
The fight against Russophobia
There are several distinct views possible ways overcoming and combating any manifestations of Russophobia that come from different understandings of its roots. One of the reasons for the hostile attitude towards Russian citizens is the consequence of the unavailability of objective information about Russians in general use, due to the lack of cultural ties between Western countries and Russia, as well as due to misunderstanding and lack of interaction between the indigenous population and Russian diasporas within these countries.
In cases of manifestations of Russophobic sentiments, it would be inappropriate to turn away in revenge from the cultures of such countries, to lock themselves within their own culture and state. Hostility, misunderstanding, dislike can be overcome only if broader interstate ties and intercultural interaction are established.
Russophobia can still be considered from the standpoint of its emergence as a consequence of the deep rooting of racism in Western consciousness and outlook. As a result, many scientists believe that the absolute overcoming of the manifestations of Russophobia will be unlikely. In this case, they can only be softened or completely eliminated. internal manifestations However, the Russophobic attitude will remain in the minds of foreign citizens. To overcome Russophobia caused by the rooting of racism in the minds of Western citizens, one can apply the experience and means of fighting for their own rights of blacks in the United States and Jews in Western Europe.
Another way to overcome the manifestations of Russophobia can be considered the correction of erroneous interpretations of the phobia itself. Often any critical remarks about Russian people or Russia are interpreted as Russophobic sentiments. There is an opinion that people who point out the manifestation of a Russophobic attitude do so mainly because of their own unhealthy intolerance.
Among the general goals aimed at combating Russophobic manifestations, it is necessary to highlight the need for an expedient and reasonable approach to the problems of this phobia. Such an approach should be based on a comprehensive study and discussion of the problem, monitoring its dynamics, soft influence, without aggressive methods, on the behavior and views of people prone to Russophobic manifestations, in accordance with national interests.
In Russia and some other countries, it is often used the concept of "Russophobia". However, the authors who use this term usually do not explain: "Russophobia" - what is it?
This is an ideology, a worldview, (most of the numerous "phobias" are precisely psychical deviations)? Let's try to figure it out.
How not to be a social phobe? Learn about it from ours.
Concept definition
What does Russophobia mean? "Phobias" psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, teachers, culturologists call unreasonable irrational fears.
Xenophobia- fear of strangers, not similar to the sick people. They may differ in skin color, religion, adhere to other cultural property and norms (to be representatives of a different culture or some subculture) - it doesn't matter.
These are all varieties of xenophobia. Xenophobia can manifest itself in aggressive behavior, but this is optional and does not constitute the essence of this pathology.
Russophobia- this is a variety, a special case of xenophobia.
If we call anyone who is afraid of people who are something different from himself a xenophobe, then a Russophobe is someone who is afraid of Russians.
Russophobe is afraid of Russians not because they actually harmed him. If so (there is real harm), it is not a phobia, but a completely rational fear.
Russophobe does not control his emotional condition, is not able to understand himself: absolutely all Russians seem to him dangerous, hostile, aggressive.
Xenophobia is a social and psychological deviation (deviation from the norm). Russophobia too. Mentally, almost all Russophobes are healthy. Their pathology is personal, mental.
However, it gives them a lot of inconvenience, and if it manifests itself in aggressive behavior directed at the phantom object of their fears (of all Russians), can become dangerous for other people.
Russophobes - who are they?
In 2017, the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, signed a decree, which actually banned from a certain moment the use of the Russian language on the territory of Ukraine for teaching, including in elementary school.
This is typical manifestation of Russophobia and people who support such laws can be called Russophobes. Obviously, the Russian language does not threaten Ukraine and Ukrainians. Moreover, without exception, all outstanding figures of Ukrainian culture and science of the past wrote and spoke Russian.
European culture also penetrated into Ukraine through the Russian language. This language is one of the six officially recognized international languages of UNESCO. Ukrainian and Russian languages are related (like these peoples themselves).
We see here irrational fear before what is not only not dangerous, but even useful. This is a typical phobia, and precisely Russophobia.
Why are the Russians afraid?
As in the case of any disease, body or soul, the cause of this disease is in the patient himself. It is with him that something is wrong, and not with the one he fears.
Cause of xenophobia considered to be an inferiority complex. Feeling weak, defenseless in a certain respect, a person finds (sometimes quite randomly) an external object to which he transfers his fears.
Why does the patient need it? If fear is personalized, the patient clearly understands who he is afraid of, what kind of people are dangerous to him, he has the illusion of controlling the situation.
Since I know who is dangerous to me, I can avoid these terrible people or defend against them take action against them.
In fact, the fight against phantoms only deepens the pathological condition of the patient, since the real cause is in himself, and it is precisely this that must be eliminated.
Source of disease- in the soul of the patient, and not in those whom he fears.
Taking the problem outside, the patient does not notice its true cause and is not treated, which aggravates his condition.
At present, Russophobia is the most common in Ukraine. What is the specific reason for the mass prevalence of this pathology in this country?
In 2014, a revolution took place in Ukraine. The inhabitants of Ukraine themselves called it the Revolution of Dignity. It was difficult and bloody. The exact number of deaths has not yet been established.
According to some estimates, more than a thousand people were killed and maimed. The rebels managed to overthrow Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia. Then other politicians came to power.
However, the situation in Ukraine not only did not improve, but worsened. Unemployment is growing, the level of income of the population is falling. Active citizens are seized with apathy, as they see that corruption in the country is still flourishing, it even intensified after the last Maidan.
It is this situation that causes a feeling of fatigue, impotence, emptiness, which provokes the appearance of an inferiority complex. It can be recalled that the Maidan of 2014 was by no means the first. And now, after all the efforts, the result is zero.
That's why there was an unconscious psychological need project your internal problems outside yourself, as always happens with any kind of xenophobia. The Russians have become such a phantom object of fear and hatred.
The cause of the country's problems is seen not in the insufficiency of the efforts made by the Ukrainians themselves, not in their mistakes - but in the Russians. It's all their fault.
Such a choice of the object of his phobia is connected with the political and even partly military conflict between Ukraine and Russia. That is, to some extent provoked by Russia.
However, at its core, the fear of the Russians, the proclamation of Russia as the main enemy of Ukraine, is an irrational phenomenon.
Illness always arises because a person lacks the courage to see the problem in himself, and he transfers it to others. Russophobia in this sense is a typical example.
What is the fear of hospitals and doctors called? find on our website.
Is there Russophobia in Russia?
Are there Russophobes in Russia itself? If you get to know social life modern Russia, read the press, you can confidently answer: Yes! There are a lot of Russophobes.
For example, publicist Boris Stomakhin, who has long been serving a sentence on falsified charges of inciting ethnic hatred and extremism. He is constantly called "Russophobe".
Boris Stomakhin is a publicist. He did not beat anyone, did not kill, did not arrange terrorist attacks. He wrote articles. Few people read these articles. Boris Stomakhin's texts are sharply critical of not only Russian state but also to the population of Russia.
Boris Stomakhin even they attribute the words that all Russians must be killed.
This is somewhat of an exaggeration.
In one of his texts, he did write that those who took up arms to fight in Eastern Ukraine should be killed. But he did not call for killing all Russians.
Many other well-known people in Russia have been called and are called Russophobes: a publicist and a satirist Viktor Shenderovich, musicians Yuri Shevchuk and Andrei Makarevich.
All of them are united by a very critical attitude towards the Russian statehood, the moral and mental qualities of the Russian people.
However, none of them experience any irrational fears. They are not afraid of the Russians. Moreover, Boris Stomakhin is Russian himself. He is not afraid of himself. Yes, this is impossible.
Recall that the essence of any kind of xenophobia is the transfer of the source of one's fears to an external object, something clearly different from the patient himself. The patient cannot be afraid of himself. He is afraid of a stranger, some other person.
In Russia, therefore, the concept of "Russophobia" is completely distorted and is used in a completely different sense from what it actually has. In fact, the inhabitants of Russia are called "Russophobes" anyone who is critical of their country tells them the uncomfortable truth about themselves. The term "Russophobia" actually has no such meaning.
So, those who are usually called “Russophobes” in Russia are healthy, opposition-minded people with developed critical thinking. They are distinguished by a greater degree of intellectual and civic maturity than those around them.
Why are they called "Russophobes"? To not take seriously what they say. A they tell the truth, and very unpleasant. But if these people are sick, then what they say is delusional fabrications. Why listen to them?
In fact, the sick are not those who are proclaimed "Russophobes", but those who call them such.
This disease is infantilism, unwillingness to grow up.
It is an adult who has the ability to be critical of himself and his country. The attitude of Russians (the vast majority of them) towards themselves and their country is childish, immature. Therefore, the unpleasant truth causes such a reaction on their part.
The inhabitants of Russia phobia of criticism. It is they who are sick, and not those whom they brand as "Russophobes" and poison. In fact, in Russia the situation described by A.S. Griboyedov in the comedy "Woe from Wit". The smartest and most critical is declared crazy.
Are there real Russophobes in Russia? Yes. These are representatives of other peoples who live in Russia, but are afraid of the Russians, although the Russians have not caused any real harm to them.
About the prevalence of phobia
It is very difficult to estimate the level of prevalence of this pathology. Residents are currently suffering from it. Ukraine, Moldova, the Baltic countries, Georgia and many European countries, as well as the USA.
However, it can be definitely stated that in the CIS countries this is quite mass problem(especially in Ukraine). But in the countries of Western Europe and the USA - a rarity.
Westerners are rationally afraid of Russia and Russians, but there are reasons for this. Russia has the world's second largest nuclear potential, a huge army, and often behaves aggressively towards its neighbors. This rational fears. Irrational fears are not very common in Western countries.
There are no statistics on this disease. Residents of Ukraine, where there is now an epidemic of Russophobia, do not recognize themselves as sick at all. Estimate exact number sick is not possible.
Everyday Russophobia and how to deal with it:
Treatment and prognosis
Since this pathology is a kind of xenophobia, the treatment is fundamentally the same as any kind of xenophobia. First of all, you need to understand your problem and admit it.
Since the deviation is deeply personal in nature, getting rid of it against the will of the patient is impossible. You need to contact a psychotherapist or psychologist. A psychiatrist won't help.
If the patient is aware of his problem he is on the road to recovery. The doctor will hold a series of conversations, it is possible to use group therapy methods, hypnotherapy.
The goal is to strengthen self-confidence, overcome an inferiority complex, thereby relieving the patient of phantom fears.
Although Russophobia is a disease, its aggressive manifestations can represent public danger and we have the right to fight them.
However, the prevention of this pathology is more effective, which consists in strengthening friendly ties between Russians and other peoples. They should be convinced that the Russians are their friends.
This is what knocks the mail out from under the feet of a delusional state that has engulfed the emotional sphere and consciousness of a person. Such a path can be recommended to those who are thirsty contribute to the fight against Russophobia.
On the attitude towards Russia on the part of the Western elites and the majority of the media:
