Anti-Americanism in Russia: From Stalin to Putin

by Eric B. Shiraev, Vladislav M. Zubok

Shiraev and Zubok analyze growing anti-Americanism in Russia, now high again after several years of "honeymoon" with the United States. An evaluation of this phenomenon is significant for assessments of current and future international developments and especially some â worst-case scenariosâ in light of further steps towards European integration, NATO expansion, and of future regional conflicts. This analysis is also crucial for theoretical and popular discussions about the course of democratic transition, as well as the practical aspects of the nature of relations between democracies. Shiraev and Zubok investigate to what extent Russian anti-Americanism is a phenomenon of a democratic polity and thus challenges a quite popular â democratic peaceâ thesis stating that spread of democracy makes international tension and conflicts far less frequent and profound.

Genres: Russia, Nonfiction

182 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Eric Shiraev is Professor and Head of CARP (Character Assassination and Reputation Politics Research Lab) at George Mason University.

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a thorough look at the evolution of recent anti-Americanism in Russia, though its analysis stops at the year 2000. Its predictions for different scenarios regarding Putin's rule are interesting, but it would have been even better if the authors could have followed anti-American sentiment into his regime, which is pertinent when looking at Russia's foreign policy and propaganda mechanisms today. I would like to know what information an updated book about this topic would offer since almost a decade has passed since it was published.

This book is a little dry and professorial, though it isn't without its moments. The authors seem to take their work personally, so anecdotes appear throughout the text to corroborate other evidence.