PONARS Policy Memo 193 - Western Perceptions of Russian Nationalism

In the past decade, Russian nationalism has become a popular topic among Western scholars, journalists, and commentators. Although not an entirely new theme among Russia-watchers, nationalism achieved a level of prominence in the 1990s that was not true during decades of more traditional Soviet and Russian studies. For the most part, those who have written about Russian nationalism in the post-Soviet period warn that it is a dangerous ideology that is likely to have negative effects on Russian domestic politics and foreign policy. Specifically, they argue that nationalism promotes authoritarian politics at home and fuels aggressive and imperialist Russian policies abroad. What follows is an overview of Western perceptions of Russian nationalism and some comments on their implications for Russian policymakers. For the purposes of this memo, nationalism is treated as a neutral concept--i.e., it does not hold the generally more negative connotations attached in Russia to the word natsionalizm. As a concept, nationalism refers to an ideology that identifies the members of a purported nation, defines what makes that nation distinct from outsiders, and articulates the highest values and aspirations for which members of a nation should strive.