5 ms·

What is the origin of this word "Russophobia" ? It seems like a recent invention trying to take advantage of the general western progressive concern of xenophob

What is the origin of this word "Russophobia" ? It seems like a recent invention trying to take advantage of the general western progressive concern of xenophobia to encourage weakness, similar to how their propagandists have re-purposed and abused general anti-war sentiment stemming from the Iraq debacle. But I'm curious to know if it's even older and was perhaps used as some kind of powertalk during Soviet times when a new area was being subjugated. "You just don't want us here because you're scared of us".

cpursley 2y ago
Goes back a while, there's even a book on the topic: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34237648-creating-russophobia https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34237648-creating-russop...
- mindslight 2y ago
  > First published January 1, 2016 That's quite recent, and the lead-in's focus on Putin "hysteria" is suspicious. The whole meme just feels an awful lot like the "American" neofascists' persecution complex, and that book seems right in line. Most certainly there is anti-Russia bias in the West that waxes and wanes - like during that entire Cold War. But extrapolating this general difference of perspective to some narrative that it's all unjust "phobia" is just disingenuous.
  - cpursley 2y ago
    Sounds like you're just looking for excuses to justify bigotry and/or collective punishment (not a western value, btw).
    - mindslight 2y ago
      Seems like more superficial appeals to Western values that end up falling apart under the slightest scrutiny. I'm out. Enjoy the great explanatory power of your phobias.
- aguaviva 2y ago
  And people write nonsense books about nonsense topics all the time.
  - cpursley 2y ago
    Have you read the book? Or you simply don’t like the premise because it might challenge your existing world-view?
    - aguaviva 2y ago
      Not every book is worth reading, nor is every worldview that comes along worth considering. We definitely aren't going to agree on this, nor is there any reason we should.
      - cpursley 2y ago
        Yes, every data point is worth taking a look at and considering. That's not the same as agreeing. And yes, there's a long history of Russophobia - especially in Western Europe that goes back to "uncivilized hordes from the east", to the Great Game competition (why the British in particular are so vapidly anti-Russian), then the more recent anti-soviet/communist mentality (excluding the current modern Putin era).
        deleted 2y ago
        [deleted]
        aguaviva 2y ago
        I suppose you're the type to spend at least 10 minutes talking to everyone on the street who hands you a flyer, or makes some other approach to you suggesting that you join their church, cult or whatever it is they're trying to get you to be a part of. And if they give you a book to read, you'll take that home and read it cover to cover. Because every data point is worth taking a look at and considering.
        mindslight 2y ago

cpursley 2y ago

Goes back a while, there's even a book on the topic: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34237648-creating-russophobia https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34237648-creating-russop...

mindslight 2y ago
> First published January 1, 2016 That's quite recent, and the lead-in's focus on Putin "hysteria" is suspicious. The whole meme just feels an awful lot like the "American" neofascists' persecution complex, and that book seems right in line. Most certainly there is anti-Russia bias in the West that waxes and wanes - like during that entire Cold War. But extrapolating this general difference of perspective to some narrative that it's all unjust "phobia" is just disingenuous.
- cpursley 2y ago
  Sounds like you're just looking for excuses to justify bigotry and/or collective punishment (not a western value, btw).
  - mindslight 2y ago
    Seems like more superficial appeals to Western values that end up falling apart under the slightest scrutiny. I'm out. Enjoy the great explanatory power of your phobias.
aguaviva 2y ago
And people write nonsense books about nonsense topics all the time.
- cpursley 2y ago
  Have you read the book? Or you simply don’t like the premise because it might challenge your existing world-view?
  - aguaviva 2y ago
    Not every book is worth reading, nor is every worldview that comes along worth considering. We definitely aren't going to agree on this, nor is there any reason we should.
    - cpursley 2y ago
      Yes, every data point is worth taking a look at and considering. That's not the same as agreeing. And yes, there's a long history of Russophobia - especially in Western Europe that goes back to "uncivilized hordes from the east", to the Great Game competition (why the British in particular are so vapidly anti-Russian), then the more recent anti-soviet/communist mentality (excluding the current modern Putin era).
      - deleted 2y ago
        [deleted]
      - aguaviva 2y ago
        I suppose you're the type to spend at least 10 minutes talking to everyone on the street who hands you a flyer, or makes some other approach to you suggesting that you join their church, cult or whatever it is they're trying to get you to be a part of. And if they give you a book to read, you'll take that home and read it cover to cover. Because every data point is worth taking a look at and considering.
      - mindslight 2y ago