The Politics of Fear: Russophobia and The Construction of Russia as the Other in Western Media Discourse

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Russophobia is not merely a general negative sentiment. It has also been identified as a discursive tool employed by certain factions in contemporary western media, playing a crucial role in shaping the image of Russia amid the ongoing political conflict between Russia and the West. This research has three main objectives: to study 1) discourse practices in the production, distribution, and consumption of texts on Russophobia in western media; 2) anti-Russian discourse through linguistic strategies used; and 3) socio-cultural practice influencing the construction of Russophobia discourse in western media. 

Methods: This research is classified as qualitative research, using Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis (CDA) as the analytical framework. This concept comprises three main dimensions: text, discourse practice, and socio-cultural practice. In addition, texts were examined using diverse linguistic strategies. The data were gathered from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Russian language broadcasts from 2020 to 2024, representing a major western media outlet that holds significant influence over the Russian-speaking audience.

Results: RFE/RL is a media organization that publishes news and analysis in 27 languages, covering 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Its Russian-language content is broadcast under the name ‘Radio Svoboda (Radio Liberty)’. The organization distributes content through the website https://www.svoboda.org, which serves as an alternative media platform to local government-controlled outlets. Its primary target audience includes Russian citizens in Russia and Russian-speaking listeners abroad. Five main Russophobia discourses were identified in RFE/RL content: 1) as Russian government propaganda; 2) as a Russian state device for political gain and suppressing dissent; 3) as a motive by western attempts to weaken or destroy Russia; 4) as a western-created phenomenon; and 5) as a discourse that is viewed as non-existent from the perspective of foreign observers. Diverse strategies were used to create these discourses, such as inventing specific vocabulary, speech acts, presuppositions, figurative language, metaphors, claims, and denials. Socio-cultural practices influencing Russophobia discourse construction include 1) the historical roots of Russophobia in relation to the West; 2) the Russian government and its policies against Russophobia; and 3) the western stance on the phenomenon of Russophobia in international politics. 

Application of this study: The findings are significant both academically and for public policy, particularly in analyzing the role of the media in the construction of political discourse. This helps international political analysts understand the mechanisms and significance of media in shaping the image and conceptual framing of a given country. It is also beneficial for crisis communication management and can serve as a model for analyzing the discourse of other forms of ‘phobia,’ such as Islamophobia and Sinophobia. 

Conclusions: Russophobia reflects the negative images and perceptions directed toward Russia, embedding discourses produced and circulated by western media for political purposes, such as RFE/RL. These media outlets play a crucial role in shaping Russia’s image for global audiences as well as specific target groups. Through the analytical lens of CDA, the mechanisms of constructing in-groups and out-groups become evident, reinforcing the targeted country’s image with clarity. This approach also reveals the complex interplay between language, media, and power within geopolitical contexts.