What is xenophobia in Russia?

Everyone knows what the xenophobia and etymology of this word is: xenos is a stranger, phobos is a fear. Therefore, we can say that xenophobia is a fear of someone else, generating hatred for someone else. Such a fear we inherited from the animal world. The stranger must be avoided, since it is dangerous, or one must be ready to fight it. But at the same time xenophobia of animals is completely justified, since the danger is real.

Anthropologists, trying to explain what xenophobia is, expressed an opinion on the biological nature of this fear. In the animal kingdom, it is not customary to enter into relations for the continuation of the genus with beings of a different species, which is quite natural for the animal kingdom. In the depths of the human psyche, the same instinct is preserved, and it lies at the basis of interethnic relations.

Modern nationalism

Nationalism in the modern world is one of the forms of xenophobia. The feeling of pride for your nation and the sense of belonging to it is quite understandable. This is considered normal, but a deformed, intensified national feeling that engenders hatred of people of other nationalities forms the basis of nationalism. Between national and nationalistic feelings there is a subtle, barely perceptible edge. They are united by a mass of mutual transitions, but these phenomena differ significantly. National feeling is something that can not be renounced, but nationalist is dangerous for both the bearers and the people around them. Nationalists are aggressive and closed, and the nationals are friendly and open.

Xenophobia in Russia

Russophobia is considered one of the advanced forms of xenophobia, which has a rich historical and literary tradition. From other forms of fear to the stranger, it differs in that its initiators were public figures and writers, focused on Jewish and European values: Belinsky, Chernyshevsky, Plekhanov, Lenin and others.

We know that such xenophobia is a manifestation of the biological essence of man, but very often this fear is used as a means to achieve specific political goals. Propaganda of physical destruction of nations, not necessary history, for example: Slavs, Gypsies, Jews. All this is xenophobia. Examples - Hitler, who sought to triumph only "right" people.

In Russia, there have also been attempts to use xenophobia to achieve political goals. The object of hatred was the Jews and the inhabitants of the mountainous Caucasus.

To date, there is a mass migration to Russia of Chinese, Vietnamese and African citizens. Therefore, it makes sense again to raise the question of what xenophobia is in modern society. Youth formations of skinheads, football fans and other destructive forces often use in their slogans statements with a xenophobic meaning.

The state's task is to destroy the manifestation of natural xenophobia. For this, it is necessary to culturally educate and educate different peoples. To acquaint them with the traditions of each other and to create the atmosphere conducive to their rapprochement and cooperation.