"Anglo-Saxons" (russian: Англосаксы, Anglosaksy) is a derogatory
propagandistic
Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...
term used by the
current Russian government and pro-
Kremlin
The Kremlin ( rus, Московский Кремль, r=Moskovskiy Kreml', p=ˈmɐˈskofskʲɪj krʲemlʲ, t=Moscow Kremlin) is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow founded by the Rurik dynasty. It is the best known of the kremlins (Ru ...
media in Russia to refer to
English-speaking countries
The following is a list of English-speaking population by country, including information on both native speakers and second-language speakers.
List
* The European Union is a supranational union composed of 27 member states. The total ...
, especially the United States and the United Kingdom.
Meaning
The term, in addition to its derogatory connotations, has implications that the so-called "Anglo-Saxons" stand in civilizational opposition to the
Eurasian
Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelago a ...
Russian world
The "Russian world" (russian: Русский мир, lit=Russian world', 'Russian order', 'Russian community, translit=Russkiy mir; la, Pax Rossica, Pax Russica) is the concept of social totality associated with Russian culture. ''Russkiy mir'' ...
and hold irreconcilable differences.
[ Russian political scientist in exile ]Vladimir Pastukhov
Vladimir Borisovitch Pastukhov (russian: Влади́мир Бори́сович Пастухо́в; born 22 April 1963) is a Russian political scientist, lawyer (advocate) and honorary senior research associate of the University College Londo ...
has described the "Anglo-Saxons" as occupying a "mythical" quality in the mind of Kremlin ideologues.[ The ]United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
and United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
are especially referred to by the term because they are perceived as "particularly die-hard adversaries of Russia."
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. ...
, the supposed struggle of Russia against "Anglo-Saxons" has especially become a central theme of Russian propaganda
The propaganda of the Russian Federation promotes views, perceptions or agendas of the government of Russia. The media include state-run outlets and online technologies, and may involve using "Soviet-style 'active measures' as an element of m ...
.Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime m ...
's press secretary Dmitry Peskov
Dmitry Sergeyevich Peskov ( rus, Дмитрий Сергеевич Песков, p=pʲɪˈskof; born 17 October 1967) is a Russian diplomat and the press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin.[Maria Zakharova
Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova (russian: Мария Владимировна Захарова; born 24 December 1975) is the Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Spokes ...]
are among the most prolific users of the term.[
]
Reactions
Lynne M. Tracy, the American ambassador to Russia, has publicly spoken against use of the phrase, calling it "very strange". She said that "it does not at all reflect the essence of the United States, which is a multinational country where people from all over the world live."
See also
References
{{Russian invasion of Ukraine, Impact
Propaganda in Russia related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Pejorative demonyms