[RUS] The Russians in the rhetoric of right-wing populist parties of Western Europe (original) (raw)

2018, Bulletin of Russian Nation

The paper is dedicated to the image of Russia and the Russian people in political rhetoric of certain right-wing populist (Eurosceptic) parties of Western Europe, namely the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), the UK Independence Party (UKIP), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Italy’s Northern League (LN) and France’s National Front (FN). Having analyzed these parties’ speakers’ statements related to Russia, we’ve found out that their attitude towards the country is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon which, nevertheless, has a number of basic characteristics. Russia has become an important part of Eurosceptic rhetoric quite recently, in 2013–2014, which coincided with the Ukraine crisis and the subsequent events, including the ongoing “sanctions wars” between the EU and Russia. Being opposed to Brussels by default, the Eurosceptics put the blame for the Ukraine crisis solely on the anti-Russia policies of the EU and US; conversely, Russia’s response to the western powers’ pressure, for instance the referendum in, and the reunification with, Crimea in March 2014, is viewed by the right-wing populists as legitimate or at least predictable and fully understandable. According to the Eurosceptics, any attempts to put political pressure on Russia by using economic sanctions are in vain due to several reasons, among them are certain features ascribed to Russian national character, which was forged by the two bloodiest world wars. Russians’ resilience to yield to outside pressure is associated by some with the person of President V.V. Putin. Moreover, the right populists perceive Russia as a country pivotal to war against islamist terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere, emphasizing Russia’s experience in dealing with homegrown extremists. Russia is also viewed by some Eurosceptics in a “Gaullist” perspective of making a Greater Europe “from Lisbon to Vladivostok” that could be a strong geopolitical center alternative to the US.