The more the Soviet government criticized the United States, the stronger was the interest in the Soviet Union everything American. I even found a time when America was perceived by many Russians, almost like heaven on earth. Putin did what you failed to Brezhnev and Andropov. When this anti-Americanism has become popular. Now not only power, but the vast majority of Russians have a negative attitude to the United States.
Goodbye, America!
A powerful surge of anti-American sentiment occurred after the Russian aggression against Ukraine. However, such sentiments began to spread in society long before that. Recall, for example, the phenomenal success of Michael Zadornov’s monologues about “stupid Americans”. This is due, apparently, with the beginning of the 90s, the disappointment in the West. During perestroika, many believed that it is necessary only to eliminate the Soviet Empire and make friends with US, so once “alive in America”.
Perestroika “American dream” of Russians dissipated like smoke. The self-awareness of the citizens of the great powers they have lost, and coveted the wealth, as in America, not purchased. It is clear that not the Americans were to blame. But many Russians are disappointed in the USA, with which were connected so many hopes turned out to be unfulfilled.
Putin’s agitprop took advantage of the situation, making anti-Americanism a major part of the new Russian state ideology: all the events, did not suit the Russian authorities, are the United States. Everything that happens in the world Kremlin propaganda examines through the prism of anti-American paranoia. From the USA made the main image of the enemy trying to subjugate Russia, threatening her with war. The majority of Russians believe in this “American threat”
Such, as Putin!
“Fall out of love” US, the Russians continue to perceive what is happening in this country with keen interest. More than half of respondents are interested in the election of the head of the American administration. Moreover, many Russians appeared first on “your” candidate for U.S. President. Soviet propaganda was periodically raised a shield of “good Americans” opposing “the aggressive policy of their authorities”, such as Angela Davis or of Dr. Haider. Now in this role – Republican presidential candidate Donald trump. If the Russians had the opportunity to choose between the current candidates for the post of head of the White house in Washington, apparently, trump would win by a large margin from Hillary Clinton. Russian propaganda made him something like the Angela Davis of our day.
Communist Davis was close ideologically to the Soviet authorities, trump is close to Russian officialdom mentally. Russians see in trump, violating all norms politkorektnosti, features, reminiscent of Putin and other prominent Russian politicians. But if sexist remarks trump lead US to grandiose scandal, Putin’s gems, like “a powerful man… ten women were raped… we all envy him (about former Israeli President Katsav)” – do not cause in the Russian society of indignation. The Russians are accustomed to sexist, nationalist, homophobic statements. On the background of Vladimir Zhirinovsky trump seems tolerantness liberal.
Wanted as better, it turned out as always
Hillary Clinton and her many supporters are confident that the Kremlin was indeed behind the hacking email the Democratic party and, in General, interfered in the election campaign, standing on the side of trump. I see no reason to doubt the conclusions of the Democrats. The dream of a friendly America, apparently, is not dead in the hearts of the Russian elite. Indeed, Putin, most likely, tried to intervene in the presidential elections, to support him mentally close trump, with which, as in the good old days, to divide the world into spheres of influence. However, these attempts apparently failed.
Judging by the polls, in the presidential campaign with a serious lead for Clinton, who won trump all debate. The probability that its victory will prevent any extraordinary circumstances, is very small. Thus even before the outcome of the elections in the United States Vladimir Putin had made himself a personal enemy in the face of the most likely President Hillary Clinton. As a result, in the future, the position of the Putin regime on the international stage can rapidly deteriorate – Russian ambitious foreign policy will face tougher than it is now, the opposition of the Americans.
In such a situation is quite likely and the new Western sanctions against Russia, and accelerated capital flight from the country. All of this can lead to the aggravation of the economic crisis, which the Kremlin routinely answer the next surge of anti-American hysteria. So, anti-Americanism will continue to work for the Putin regime, rallying around it the population. But for how long?
