Image of Russian Pan-Slavism in German Official Press at End of 19th Century

Abstract

The aim of the research is to reconstruct the image of Russian Pan-Slavism in the German official press during the Bismarck era. The study examines the characteristic features of this image and its evolution over time, with particular attention given to the relationship between the image of Russian Pan-Slavism and the development of Russiangerman relations. The key source for this research is official newspapers, which were used by the German government to influence public opinion within the country and to transmit unofficial messages to ruling circles in other European states. The relevance of this research lies in the significant impact that historically established images and perceptions have on international relations in the modern world. The study concludes that the official press referred to the stereotypical image of Russian Pan-Slavism as a dangerous threat to the European world, which existed in German society, and contributed to its further strengthening. This image was widely used in the second half of the 1880s during a serious crisis in Russiangerman relations.