The Revival of Nazism and Modern Russophobia: Lessons from History and Challenges of the Present

The article examines the resurgence of Nazism in the 21st century and analyzes manifestations of modern Russophobia in the political discourse and informational agendas of European countries as a significant challenge for Russia. The author reviews the works of theorists who studied totalitarian regimes of the 20th century (H. Arendt, С. Hayes), paying particular attention to the pseudo-scientific foundations underpinning Nazism, which is rooted in social Darwinism, anti-Semitism, anti-communism, and anti-Slavism. Additionally, the article provides an initial definition of the term “Russophobia”, first introduced by F.I. Tyutchev, noting that its meaning has under-gone substantial transformation over time. Based on the analysis of normative legal documents, situational and contextual analysis of media materials, the author cites facts of Russophobia manifesting as a form of “new anti-Semitism” in modern European political practices. Western European countries tend to overlook overtly Nazi-in-spired legal norms and symbols present in Ukrainian policies, as well as in those of Baltic states, Poland, and several other nations. By demonizing Russia, these states are consolidating their military and political capabilities while employing hostile rhetoric to launch new confrontations against Russia.