Western orientalism and the threat from Russia

Abstract

Contemporary security discourse on the belligerence of Russia is often understood through cultural terms. Russian culture and its way of war are seen to be a fundamental cause of tension. This cultural divide is increasingly described in civilizational terms in which a liberal democratic West is opposed by an irrational Russian-East, ever resistant to modernity. This perspective is known as orientalism. The following paper argues that orientalism and its cultural explanations of war are problematic. Western orientalist portrayals of Russia increase the chances of militarization and limits the scope of negotiation.