No matter which way you look, Russian people are not loved and understood. Why don't Russians like Russia? Russians don't like everyone

Sometimes it’s difficult to answer why they don’t like Russians. And is it possible to speak in general about the attitude of other nations towards this people? Everyone may have their own assumptions about hostility towards the Russian population. All kinds of forums are replete with various comments, one way or another related to the perception of Russia from the outside. Each state has its own culture, which may well explain the general reluctance to recognize foreign practices.

The attitude of Ukrainians towards Muscovites

One of Russia's closest neighbors is Ukraine. If we go back to history, Kievan Rus initially grew from the territory that now belongs to the Ukrainians. Historians are still arguing about what caused the split between the “Little Russians” and the Russians. There is a fact: at present, two separate states still continue to communicate closely with each other.

Probable reasons for the hostile attitude of Ukrainians towards their Russian “brothers”:

1. National resentment. History provides many examples of how “poor” Ukrainians had to submit to a stronger people. In fact, since ancient times, after the unification of various tribes, the Slavs lived by common interests. And it’s difficult to say whether Ukraine can even claim the right to be a separate state with “long-standing roots.”

Nations are trying to instill a sense of self-confidence, some significance on the world stage, and the uniqueness of their own country. But is it worth believing in the independence of the country if one part of the population stubbornly speaks Russian, while the other considers their Ukrainian to be pure, although a significant percentage of Polish words are mixed in it? Perhaps the hostility is caused precisely by the constant reproach towards the use of the Ukrainian language. It’s easier to hate someone else than to solve the problem yourself.

2. The machinations of politicians. Constant accusations of the heads of two neighboring states are beginning to fuel internal conflicts. If politicians had emphasized more the commonality between the Slavs, then the issue of hatred of Russians would hardly have arisen at all.

How can you treat your close relatives badly? But after the separation of Ukraine from Russia, many families unexpectedly found themselves in different countries. Therefore, only the actions of politicians can explain the growing hostility between two close peoples.

3. Sharing offensive jokes. It has long been the custom that jokes feature “Muscovites” and “slaves.” Some perceive jokes as they should - with ease and cheerful laughter. Others see malicious intent in every phrase.

Such behavior is characteristic of every nation, since here we are talking about specific upbringing. Therefore, for an ordinary person, it is unlikely that one anecdote will become a reason to hate someone.

4. The habit of hating everything close to you. Constant grievances leave their mark on the style of thinking. It’s easier to notice the bad around you than to focus on the good and try to do even better. For pessimists, it doesn't make much difference who they hate.

Why don't they like Russians? They don’t want to just give their wealth to their neighbors. Europeans - because they are not allowed into their territory to work without visas. Americans - because they consider themselves smarter than others. The Chinese - for breeding indiscriminately and counterfeiting goods. The list goes on and on...

5. The desire to blame someone else for failures. If everything falls out of hand and you are too lazy to work, then let the neighbor be to blame, not the owner himself. This approach is practiced not only by Ukrainians, but also by other nationalities.

Despite the above, these two peoples still remain fraternal. Slavic roots and common history brought them closer together than modern youth realizes.

How do Europeans treat the Slavs?

The measured life of the average European is very different from that of a Russian person. Cultures are too different to simply talk about the possibility of mutual love and respect.

What causes Europe's dislike for Russians?

1) Unpredictability. Russians can easily do what occurred to them 5 minutes ago. Europeans do not understand this behavior. It is difficult to make joint plans when your partner is ready to take a different path at any moment.

2) Excessive emotionality. Russians are characterized by a quick switch from gloominess to unbridled joy and vice versa. Too much cordiality is alarming. Europeans, accustomed to meeting mainly on neutral territory, cannot understand a large feast in cramped living conditions. They are characterized by a restrained expression of emotions, rather than a violent demonstration of their feelings.

3) The habit of littering. It is known that it is clean there... yes, yes! Exactly! There is no need to say that comparing the streets of a provincial town somewhere in Italy and in Russia will not be in favor of the latter. The question is not so much in the leadership of the country, but in the habits of the people inhabiting the area.

4) The ability to attract attention. Tons of cosmetics, loud conversation and bad taste in clothing further deepen the gap between the residents of the European Union and Russia.

5) Ignoring laws. It is unlikely that Russians should be classified as law-abiding citizens. The list of violations goes on and on: driving too fast, trying to avoid taxes, wanting to ride for free on public transport, smoking and drinking in public places, etc.

6) Greater manifestation of various discriminations. European culture includes hypertrophied care for children and the elderly, emphasizing the equality of the sexes and different nationalities. Not everything goes smoothly for them, but law-abiding citizens are still accustomed to following the rules. A Russian actually says one thing and does something completely different.

A woman may not be hired for a job simply because the employer perceived in her a desire to give birth to a child in the next couple of years. Children are calmly punished with belts and screams, and the pensions of old people are barely enough to pay for utilities and pills. There is still debate in transport whether it is worth giving up seats to pregnant women and mothers with children, although in Europe such a situation seems completely unrealistic.

American hatred of Russians

Fear explains a lot of what is happening in America. It is difficult to love someone whom you are taught to fear from childhood. Why are Americans afraid of Russians? This is a combination of several factors:

The ability of Russians to fly into rage. Well-groomed American soldiers will not just rush into battle. It is very difficult to provoke real rage in a well-fed soul. Russians are capable of “losing their temper” out of the blue and breaking everything in sight.

Surprised by high intelligence and poor organization. Russian ingenuity knows no bounds. If there is a desire to do something, then not a single obstacle in the world can resist the mysterious Slavic soul. At the same time, it remains surprising that the country is not moving forward by leaps and bounds in its development.

Strong affinity for innovative technologies. For an American, any gadget is a natural norm of life. It is very difficult to explain to them how you can find the right path without a compass and navigator. Therefore, they are frightened by the ability of Russians to live even without all these newfangled things.

Actions of politicians. To strengthen the country, it is very important that the people have a common enemy. If it is not created externally, then the government itself risks becoming the enemy. It is easier to show that Russia is a scary country that should be feared than to unite the nation with the usual increase in self-awareness.

Different mentality. Americans are ready to wear a smile on duty around the clock, which is why they consider Russians gloomy. But in practice, it’s unlikely that you can just drop by a neighbor’s house in America and ASK for salt. They do not understand the gesture of a “broad soul”, when something is simply given to a neighbor without a hint of benefit in the future.

Lack of the slightest mutual understanding. A measured life, subject to rules and law, cannot be compared with the need to constantly survive in the changing conditions of the country.

And finally:

It would be possible to touch upon the difficult topic of relations between Caucasians and Russians, but their hostility would take too long to describe. The peculiarity of every nation is that it strives to love only “its own”. This does not mean that it is impossible to live peacefully with each other or closely cooperate on many issues. You just shouldn’t expect positive feelings from another person if deep down you yourself have a bias towards other nationalities...

This article does not have the goal of inciting interethnic hatred, but simply examines the question of why some nations do not like Russians, and what the reasons for this may be. The article is for informational purposes only and is written for all those who are interested in this issue.

After the collapse of the USSR, routes abroad opened up, and today anyone can visit another country, because trips can cost as little as $300. Unfortunately, many have not learned how to behave abroad.

Russians through the eyes of foreigners

Why don't Americans like Russians? Perhaps due to the many years of confrontation between the USA and the USSR, anti-Soviet propaganda was strong at that time. For the most part, Americans do not like Russians because of the flow of emigration in the 90s, when the richest people left for America. We could count the number of honest millionaires on one hand, and even then nothing was done without the participation of organized crime, which means there is a dark past. The criminal affairs of Russian mafiosi began in America, which had plenty of its own criminals. Hence the association of the word “Russian” with the word “mafia”, although now this stage of history is beginning to be forgotten.

It is no wonder that Russians are feared and sometimes avoided in Europe. The reason for this is not even cultural differences, but often disrespect by Russian tourists for the country they are traveling to, and absolute ignorance of laws and regulations. We are not liked for the savagery that some individuals show abroad.

As practice shows, the greatest number of problems with Russian tourists occur among residents of two and three-star hotels, mainly in Turkey and Egypt. These are people who believe that by buying a ticket, they have paid for everything. For broken things, for your rudeness. They believe that everyone owes them for this money. For this kind of people, a trip for a week abroad is an adventure where you can be rowdy and show everyone your prowess, and no one will arrest you, and if they arrest you, then only until you sober up. And then home. Here is the answer to the question why Russians are not liked either in Europe or in America.

A few key points for those who are going on vacation abroad, but do not want to look like a barbarian and feel the suspicious glances of others:

• If you are traveling under the “All in” program, that is, everything is included, it is not necessary to take everything that is included with you to your homeland. Some Russians take out almost the entire room, even down to small pieces of soap. Stop trying to get a full refund from your hotel!
• Don't abuse alcohol, don't disgrace your country! If you drink at a bar, do it in a civilized manner! The British and Germans are also big drinkers, but for some reason everyone calls the Russians drunkards.
• In Europe and America it is customary to leave a tip. This is a must if you are getting good service. Look for specific tip percentages on the Internet, it depends on the country. An exception may be Türkiye.
• Be polite and try to smile at others, this is normal abroad. Russian rudeness is already a popular brand in popular inexpensive resorts.
• Do not try to resolve issues with scandals and shouting - shouting at an employee is useless, especially in Egypt or Turkey. Ask to speak to the manager and explain the problem in a calm tone. Screaming and throwing tantrums is uncivilized, and in Muslim countries it is also a sign of weakness.

Citizens of Russia, stop acting like savages, remember, you represent your country abroad! Control yourself!

It is believed that Russians are disliked throughout the world. Perhaps this is an exaggeration, but in some places it is better to hide the fact that you came from Russia.

Western Ukraine

The entry of Western Ukraine into the USSR in 1939 was perceived by many as a violent act. In terms of culture and mentality, Westerners today differ significantly not only from Russians, but even from residents of Eastern Ukraine. Moreover, before the Soviet “occupation,” Western Ukraine was Catholic and bourgeois. But Russia allegedly did not allow it to develop along this path.

Poland

After the Russian army occupied the Grand Duchy of Warsaw in 1813, the “Kingdom of Poland” became part of the Russian Empire. The Poles have always had a strong national identity; they were not satisfied with the role of residents of the Russian province.

So, Poland had to fight for independence from Russia, fight with the Russians for one or another land. And the Soviet totalitarian regime spoiled a lot of blood for them.

Croatia

For many centuries, Croatia was part of Austria-Hungary. Unlike their immediate neighbors, the Orthodox Serbs, the Croats were Catholics. During the First World War they suffered a number of defeats from the Russian army in Galicia and Bukovina. And during the Second World War, the Croatian Ustasha fought on the side of the Nazis. The Warsaw Pact introduced Croatia into socialist Yugoslavia, which did not add to the Croatians’ love for Russia, since it was the USSR that largely determined the policy of the Yugoslav government.

Bulgaria

The Bulgarians did not always dislike us, because it was Russia that they owed their liberation from the Ottoman yoke. However, during the First and Second World Wars, Bulgaria, for a number of circumstances, found itself in the camp of our opponents.

In recent years, anti-Russian sentiments have been growing among Bulgarians - this is how Western propaganda works. In this country, Russian tourists who use Bulgaria as a resort area are not very welcome; they are considered arrogant snobs.

Romania

The hatred of Romanians for Russians is connected, first of all, with territorial claims: they believe that Russia once occupied Bessarabia, the territory of present-day Moldova. And Romania’s socialist past is remembered as a complete nightmare. True, they hate Russia as a country rather than the Russians themselves.

Baltics

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became part of the USSR in August 1939. Part of the population perceived this as annexation.

Of course, the Sovietization of the newly annexed republics could not be avoided. Repressions began. Tens of thousands of “unreliable citizens” were deported. And although, in fact, the Russians saved the Baltic republics from fascism and restored them after the war, a residue, as they say, remained.

Norway

In Norway you may be reprimanded if you speak Russian. All doors will be closed in front of you. The reasons for this are related not so much to history as to modern propaganda, which presents Russia as a criminal and racist state, where there is supposedly neither freedom nor democracy.

Japan

The Japanese have historical reasons for their bad attitude towards Russians - the history of the Kuril Islands, military confrontations in 1905 and 1945. But most of all they have complaints about our behavior in everyday life. They believe that Russians are lazy, unfriendly, often behave unrestrainedly - in a word, so unlike themselves.

Saudi Arabia

Russians may have problems with Saudis due to their very different lifestyles. Here, for example, there are a lot of prohibitions for women - they cannot drive, go out without men, they can only wear certain clothes. The Saudis also cannot pass anything with their left hand, because it is “unclean.” They officially prohibit entertainment and alcohol, and all religions except Islam are outlawed. It is clear that things are not easy for Russians in Saudi Arabia.

Africa

Russians are not treated very well in African countries either, especially in those where our tourists like to come. Thus, Tunisian sellers do not like the manner of Russian women trying on things and not buying anything. Many people do not like that Putin supports the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

In Somalia, they are not very friendly towards Russians due to old memory, when our military carried out their international duty in this country. Somalis consider Russians to be barbarians and despots.

In any African country, Russians have a chance to meet militant Islamists. Therefore, if you are in Africa, it is better not to mention at all that you are Russian, because everyone knows what Russian policy is towards ISIS (an organization banned in the Russian Federation).

I dug up an interesting text from LiveJournal. And there is something in what the author writes about.
Stole from here:

- Damn! Where do so many Russians come from?!
- I should shoot them!
(from a dialogue between two drunken compatriots, Vienna)

To begin with, it should be noted that by the word “Russians” I mean all Russian-speaking immigrants from the former Soviet Union. After all, no matter how we, Belarusians or Ukrainians, would like it, they perceive us abroad precisely as Russians. Moreover, they calculate it accurately in any crowd on any continent. When communicating with foreigners, I always ask “How did you understand that I am Russian?” (actually, Belarusian, but this is not so important). In response, I almost always hear the same epithets - “closed, gloomy, isolated, uncommunicative and constantly saying how you don’t like other Russians.”

But it's true! We can talk a lot about traditional Slavic unsmiling, gloomy faces with eternal existential melancholy, but God bless them. However, for some unknown reason, you and I cannot stand our compatriots abroad. And I am by no means an exception in this description.

- Guys, can I take a picture of your girls?
- No problem! You are ours, Pole. Just don't get too close to them, otherwise they'll get nervous.
(from a conversation with Polish pimps in Brussels)

It seems that we are all adults, moderately educated people with a normal level of socialization. But when we cross the border, we turn into notorious Russophobes. And then we are surprised - they say, no one likes Russians, not even themselves.

I had to deal with different people in different countries. So, on the plane from Havana to Panama, we met the Englishman Ryan, and spent a wonderful day with him - sharing the considerable costs of a taxi and lunch for two. During lunch he managed to drink two liters of beer, but for some reason this did not cause my rejection at all. If my compatriot had done the same, perhaps I would have been ashamed of him. That's why this is so?!

By the way, there was one interesting episode with Ryan. In a restaurant in the center of Panama City, he got into a conversation with a waiter who turned out to be Italian and had lived in London for several years. You should see their sincere joy in the fact that they can discuss their favorite places in London and football teams with someone. And it doesn’t matter that they supported different clubs!

- Sorry, my phone doesn't work. Can I send SMS to my wife from yours? I will cry.
- It doesn’t work for me either. (hiding the phone in his pocket)
(dialogue with Russian tourists, Cuba, Varadero)

At home, we are more likely to lend a helping hand to our neighbors, but when abroad we forget about it. Once, at the Panama airport, I had the opportunity to ask a complete stranger (as it later turned out, from Costa Rica) to borrow a laptop charger. He gave it to me without any hesitation. By contrast, a similar request to a Russian-speaking tourist at Vienna airport ended in failure. It seems like a small thing, but it’s significant.

- Does your phone not work? You can call from mine.
(from a conversation with a neighbor, a pensioner from Sweden, Havana)

Maybe it’s because of our eternal distrust - lest we be deceived once again. Who knows... But even in completely non-binding situations, I came across strange arrogance on the part of my compatriots abroad. After living for a week in a small hotel in the mountains of Slovakia, filled with Russians, I was unable to start a conversation with any of them. They all preferred to sit in the corners and whisper quietly. And the next day we played billiards with the Germans in the same hotel.

- Well, where are we? Have you even looked at the map!? Who should I ask for directions here? They don’t understand Russian! (hereinafter untranslatable play on words)
- But ours are nowhere to be found!
(from a dialogue between a married couple, outskirts of Paris)

In short, whatever one may say, we do not like our compatriots. I have one theory about this. Not comprehensive, but still...
A Russian tourist is most often a person chosen and endowed with authority. Hence the eternal snobbery on Russian-language travel forums (“I know where it’s better, cheaper. And in general, I understand everything better than you,” “I’ve been where you’ll never get to”). Hence the reviews like “For the money that I paid for the hotel, they should have...”. And then a list of what “these fucking Turks and Egyptians” should have done to the Russian tourist. This also includes the famous phrase, uttered already on vacation - “Yes, you know who I am!” And to the heap - “I won’t go to Prague (Paris, Turkey, Thailand - underline as appropriate), there are a lot of Russians there.”

- Why did we come here? Me too, beauty!
- And do not say. We just wasted our time. It would be better if we went to the beach.
(from a conversation between two teenage girls, Rovinj, Croatia)

I have already mentioned the image of the Russian that foreigners have. Not the most flattering, but still tolerable. The Russians themselves have a much worse typical portrait of a compatriot - uneducated, drinking, arrogant and boorish. A kind of “Tagil”. Naturally, this type does not evoke any respect, much less joy from meeting him.

- Why is he there for so long, damn #!?
- Now we’ll show him how to love his homeland!
(from a dialogue in the bar of an all-inclusive hotel)

But in fairness, it should be said that the caricature of the Russian tourist, which is persistently replicated on our own forums, is quite far from the truth.
So the classic picture of a drinking Russian is nothing compared to the state to which Finnish women and Norwegian truck drivers get drunk. Russian brawlers are just children next to the raging British and Poles. Tastelessly dressed Russian ladies at least don’t go out for walks in tight T-shirts over a layer of fat, as American women and others like them do everywhere.

So it turns out that we ourselves have developed a stereotype that we stubbornly support through our own attitude and behavior. And we continue to conquer countries and continents in splendid isolation and with our heads held high. And preferably, away from the Russians...

p.s. Photographs have very little to do with the text and are needed solely to make reading less boring.