Teach me about Russia. | 131 comments (131 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: exactly! n/t (none / 0)

Do Russians consider themselves Europeans?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 11:49:04 AM EST
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Re: exactly! n/t (none / 0)

I guess "some do, some don't" would be the default answer.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 11:52:07 AM EST
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Re: exactly! n/t (none / 0)

ALL Russians consider themselves Europeans. Even those born east of the Urals.

I have a lot of friends from Novosibirsk. They would find it very strange if someone called them Asians.

by slaboymni on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 11:58:43 AM EST
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Re: exactly! n/t (none / 0)

Not all. I personally have talked to Russians who say that the Europe/Asia division is bunk, Western Europe too different, and Russia is a separate realm that connects. They may not be a majority opinion, as the poll supplied by blackhawk shows, but exists.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 12:07:54 PM EST
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Re: exactly! n/t (none / 1)

Reasons are mostly historical. Europe has a history of overt agression against Russia (crusades, Napoleon, Hitler) and religious one (Russia is Orthodox). Currently Russia is surrounded on the Western border by rather nationalistic regimes which are at least not friendly either to Russia or to Russian business interests.

At the same time, relationships with the East are better. Problem is, at the west Russia has much more infrastructure and population compared to the east.

Also east generally has lower temperatures than the west, large areas are under permafrost. There are places in Siberia where average annual temperature is zero.

by blackhawk on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 12:27:07 PM EST
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Re: exactly! n/t (none / 0)

Europe has a history of overt agression against Russia (crusades, Napoleon, Hitler) and religious one (Russia is Orthodox).

Side note to slaboymni: Russian (and Ukrainian) Orthodox Christians are still bitter because of Polish attempts at Catholisation three centuries ago. But they are not at all exceptional in Europe to have such long memories. That's what I mean when I say two centuries ago is recent from a European viewpoint.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Wed Jan 11th, 2006 at 05:56:38 AM EST
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Re: exactly! n/t (none / 0)

Other to-do item: work out the mess of religious conflicts in and around the orthodox churches.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Jan 11th, 2006 at 05:59:55 AM EST
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