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The book did not invent the term Russophobia in 2016, it's an exploration of historical negative sentiment towards Russia and Russians. And to be precise, philo

The book did not invent the term Russophobia in 2016, it's an exploration of historical negative sentiment towards Russia and Russians. And to be precise, philosopher John Stuart Mill coined it back in 1836 (who was no doubt, under the influence of Russian Propaganda™ and just repeating Putins talking points).

aguaviva 2y ago
What you seem to be tripped by is the fact that an information source can on first appearances seem quite legitimate and useful, by telling you all kinds of perfectly valid and interesting stuff, like the book you are promoting here, with all these nifty factoids about 19th century history, that fun quote by JSM and so on -- while at the same time also subtley (or in the case of this book, not so subtley) blowing smoke in your face in regard to other aspects which are important to the key message it's trying to get into your head. In regard to the topic -- of course negative sentiment has existed against Russia, as it has against the US, the UK, France, Spain, Germany and and other other major colonial powers at various times. And of course politicians will always say and do stupid things, especially if we go back to the 19th century. Where the material you are advocating itself crosses into the realm of propaganda is precisely: (1) the attempt to promote "russophobia" as an actual thing, that is, as universally accepted and recognized concept (it is not by any stretch); and (2) the suggestion that negative sentiment in regard to any version of the Russian state and its actions in the world is basically just an instance of irrational "fear", essentially a form of xenophobia, or racially driven fear; and (3) the implication that this imagined "russophobia" is in fact the tail wagging the dog of relations between Russia and other countries today, and is what's really driving people's perceptions about its current regime and what it is doing to its neighbors on the ground, right now. Points (1)-(3) are all pure nonsense of course, yet they are the very heart of the modern "russophobia" accusation. All that stuff about what happened in the 19th century or what JSM said is just sugarcoating to get you to swallow and internalize these 3 basic messages. And then get on the internet and tell everyone about this neat little book you found, and how they really ought to read it because you know, it just might change their worldview.
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aguaviva 2y ago

What you seem to be tripped by is the fact that an information source can on first appearances seem quite legitimate and useful, by telling you all kinds of perfectly valid and interesting stuff, like the book you are promoting here, with all these nifty factoids about 19th century history, that fun quote by JSM and so on -- while at the same time also subtley (or in the case of this book, not so subtley) blowing smoke in your face in regard to other aspects which are important to the key message it's trying to get into your head. In regard to the topic -- of course negative sentiment has existed against Russia, as it has against the US, the UK, France, Spain, Germany and and other other major colonial powers at various times. And of course politicians will always say and do stupid things, especially if we go back to the 19th century. Where the material you are advocating itself crosses into the realm of propaganda is precisely: (1) the attempt to promote "russophobia" as an actual thing, that is, as universally accepted and recognized concept (it is not by any stretch); and (2) the suggestion that negative sentiment in regard to any version of the Russian state and its actions in the world is basically just an instance of irrational "fear", essentially a form of xenophobia, or racially driven fear; and (3) the implication that this imagined "russophobia" is in fact the tail wagging the dog of relations between Russia and other countries today, and is what's really driving people's perceptions about its current regime and what it is doing to its neighbors on the ground, right now. Points (1)-(3) are all pure nonsense of course, yet they are the very heart of the modern "russophobia" accusation. All that stuff about what happened in the 19th century or what JSM said is just sugarcoating to get you to swallow and internalize these 3 basic messages. And then get on the internet and tell everyone about this neat little book you found, and how they really ought to read it because you know, it just might change their worldview.

deleted 2y ago
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