A general retrospective of the formation of a negative image of Russia in the countries of the collective west. Causes and consequences

The purpose of this work is a brief historical analysis of the relationship between Russia and the countries of the collective West, as well as their features in the formation of a negative image of Russia in the minds of residents of Europe and the United States and their political elite. Today, when Russia makes a choice in favor of the eastern vector of foreign policy development, the question of the reasons for this choice becomes especially relevant. Being under the pressure of an unprecedented number of economic sanctions, the Russian Federation must once again comprehend its position in the world and realize the most acceptable ways of foreign policy for itself. The foreign policy development of Russia throughout its history has been heterogeneous and varied depending on the context of the historical epoch, the internal policy of the state and the dynamics of international relations. For the last thirty years, the international relations of the Russian Federation have been maneuvering between European (Western) and East Asian (Eastern) directions. This centrism was dictated by the attempts of the Russian authorities to develop partnerships simultaneously in all priority areas of international relations without taking into account a number of specific factors. Currently, the countries of the collective West have actually stopped direct diplomatic and economic cooperation with Russia, allegedly due to the start of ITS in Ukraine in February 2022, however, cases of direct russophobia have escalated, not only in countries where this process has already become practically "traditional" (Poland, the Baltic states), but also in countries of Central Europe: Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain. Of course, this can be characterized purely in a political context, but the rate of growth of russophobic sentiments, which began in February 2022 and continues to this day, speaks of deep, fundamental contradictions that have been forming between Russia and the West for centuries. We believe that the reason for the aggravation of russophobic attacks from representatives of the Western European community lies precisely in this socio-cultural aspect.