Anti-Americanism in Russia: From Stalin to Putin

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 “worst-case scenarios” 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 “democratic peace” thesis stating that spread of democracy makes international tension and conflicts far less frequent and profound.