Russia
Vladimir Pozner, Channel 1 | June 2003
Channel 1's Vladimir Pozner reflects on anti-American sentiment in Russia.
The general attitude of Russians towards America is clearly negative.
That is a significant change from Soviet times, when anti-Americanism was government policy, yet was not shared at the grassroots level.
After the dissipation of the U.S.S.R., the overwhelming majority of Russians had a markedly pro-American outlook. They felt confident that the U.S. would initiate something akin to the Marshall Plan, thereby showing its support of democratic Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin |
Nothing of the sort occurred.
When life became increasingly difficult as a result of failed reforms and other factors, and more and more Russians sank into poverty, anti-American sentiment increased, and was immediately used by the communist and nationalistic parties.
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia only served to exacerbate the situation, as its country and people – the Serbs – were seen by Russians as close in culture and religion, as they are all of Slav heritage.
With the election of U.S. President George W. Bush and the subsequent radical change in U.S. policy, the unilateral approach to international issues was starkly demonstrated by the war in Iraq.
Russian public opinion vis-à-vis America dipped to a sub-zero temperature.
Super-power envy
That is how the situation stands today.
In my opinion, the above is only part of the reason for the growth of anti-Americanism in Russia.
I would add such psychological factors as envy, loss of super-power status, loss of self-respect, super-power aspirations that are clearly unrealistic, poverty and much more.
It should be said, however, that the present U.S. administration bears much of the blame for the increasingly hostile attitude of Russia towards America.
Should the far-right or far-left ride back into power on anti-U.S. coattails, this could lead to a real disaster: let the U.S. not forget that Russia remains a nuclear super-power.
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