Russophobia as a Component of Modern Geopolitical Confrontation: Global and Regional Dimensions

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the unprecedented scale and consequences of modern manifestations of Western Russophobia, which are sources of not only external but also internal challenges and threats to Russia’s national security. The purpose of the study is to characterize the specifics of Russophobia as a component of the modern geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the West at the global and regional levels based on the results of the conducted research. Materials and Methods. The research was based on the study of the doctrinal foundations of the foreign policy and national security of the Russian Federation, fundamental documents in the field of foreign policy strategy and national security of the United States, speeches of modern Russian statesmen and politicians, and data from the media. The methodological basis of the research is the synthesis of geopolitical and systemic approaches in line with the paradigm of neorealism, which led to the use of activity, institutional and historical-genetic methods, as well as methods of document analysis and discourse analysis. Results. Based on an analysis of the experience of international interaction, examples of the manifestation of phobias caused by a number of factors, including geopolitical rivalry, have been given. The definition and interpretation of the concept of “Russophobia” have been clarified. The reasons and features of modern manifestations of Western Russophobia have been revealed. Aspects of Western Russophobia as an instrument of hybrid warfare have been examined. Examples of Russophobic rhetoric in basic documents that define approaches to US foreign policy and national security have been identified. The main challenges and threats to the national security of the Russian Federation, which have become derivatives of the Russophobic course of the collective West, have been characterized. Recommendations to counteract this phenomenon have been presented. Discussion and Conclusion. The conducted research testifies to the significant intensification of the current tendencies of Russophobia, manifesting itself in scientific-philosophical, international-legal, economic, military-strategic, as well as cultural-psychological, ideological and religious aspects. The materials and conclusions of the study can be used by government departments and research centers of the Russian Federation in the process of forming and implementing state policy and ensuring national security.