How Western is Russia?

[Mortimer]

Do you guys perceive Russia as part of the west?
Do Russians themselfes perceive themselfes as part of the West.

Interested to hear the opinions.

[Mercury]

Russians never viewed themselves as Westerners, and with good reason. They are related to our civilization, but we're not the same.

[Gaztelu]

Well, the current generation of Russians* that I have gotten to know see themselves as Westerners/Europeans, rather than members of some hybrid Eurasian society. Although keep in mind that said Russians I have met were from affluent backgrounds.

*Those who were born in the late 80s, early 90s

[Crn Volk]

Russia is most definately an Eastern country - Eastern European that is. That has always been the case, since their adoption of the Eastern Orthodox Christian religion.

[Phil75231]

Is Russia European? I would not say so, for it has very little in common with Germany, France, and Italy.

Is Russia Asian? Definitely not Asian either, for it is also nothing like India and China.

So what is it? Ultimately, it's unique. It's its own region. Still, I will call it a Peripherally Western nation that frequently and actively participates in European History. They have the same essential religion (Christianity) that predominates there. Their language is most closely related to European languages, their physical appearance most closely resembles other Europeans (nobody would say they're from China, India, or Iran, for example). Even granting all this, as said above, it's historical and cultural trajectory is too different from Western Europe to be called a true Western Nation.

[Sikeliot]

I do not view Russia as Western.

[Crn Volk]

Is Russia European? I would not say so, for it has very little in common with Germany, France, and Italy.

Is Russia Asian? Definitely not Asian either, for it is also nothing like India and China.

So what is it? Ultimately, it's unique. It's its own region. Still, I will call it a Peripherally Western nation that frequently and actively participates in European History. They have the same essential religion (Christianity) that predominates there. Their language is most closely related to European languages, their physical appearance most closely resembles other Europeans (nobody would say they're from China, India, or Iran, for example). Even granting all this, as said above, it's historical and cultural trajectory is too different from Western Europe to be called a true Western Nation.

To be European does not mean 'Westerner'. The very word 'Westerner' implies there must be an 'Easterner' ie., an Eastern European. Further East from Eastern Europe lies Asia, and Asians which Russia is most definately not.

[Sikeliot]

Russians are European but I don't see all of Europe as being part of "The West".

[Joe McCarthy]

Russia, the Third Rome, is the successor to Byzantium and thus epitomizes the anti-West or at least non-West. Its foreign policy has long favored a Third Worldist, anti-Western orientation.

It has a Western leaning intelligentsia, but that has long been sidelined and is so now by the Eurasian oriented Putin regime.

Eurasianism itself is actually an ideology potentially as dangerous as Bolshevism and theorists like Dugin should be seen as our sworn enemies.

[Crn Volk]

Russia, the Third Rome, is the successor to Byzantium and thus epitomizes the anti-West or at least non-West. Its foreign policy has long favored a Third Worldist, anti-Western orientation.

It has a Western leaning intelligentsia, but that has long been sidelined and is so now by the Eurasian oriented Putin regime.

Eurasianism itself is actually an ideology potentially as dangerous as Bolshevism and theorists like Dugin should be seen as our sworn enemies.

You are correct, but Zionist led US govt is more dangerous then Russia...