Everyone knows what xenophobia and the etymology of this word are: xenos - alien, phobos - fear. Therefore, we can say that xenophobia is a fear of a stranger, generating hatred of a stranger. We inherited such fear from the animal world. An alien must be avoided, as it is dangerous, or one must be prepared to fight it. But xenophobia of animals is quite justified, since the danger is real.
Anthropologists, trying to explain what xenophobia is, expressed an opinion on the biological nature of this fear. In the animal world, it is not customary to enter into a relationship for procreation with creatures of a different appearance, which is quite natural for the animal world. In the depths of the human psyche, the same instinct remains, and it is he who lies at the basis of interethnic relations.
Modern nationalism
Nationalism in the modern world is a type of xenophobia. A sense of pride in your nation and a sense of belonging to it is quite understandable. This is considered normal, but a deformed, strengthened national feeling that generates hatred for people of other nationalities forms the basis of nationalism. There is a thin, barely noticeable line between the national and nationalist feelings. They are united by a mass of mutual transitions, but at the same time these phenomena are significantly different. The national feeling is something that cannot be denied, but the nationalist is dangerous both for the carriers and for the people around him. Nationalists are aggressive and private, and nationals are friendly and open.
Xenophobia in Russia
Russophobia is considered one of the developed forms of xenophobia, which has a rich historical and literary tradition. It differs from other forms of fear towards someone else's in that its initiators were public figures and writers focused on Jewish and European values: Belinsky, Chernyshevsky, Plekhanov, Lenin and others.
We know that xenophobia is a manifestation of a person’s biological essence, but very often this fear is used as a means to achieve specific political goals. Propaganda of the physical destruction of nations that do not need history, for example: Slavs, gypsies, Jews. All this is xenophobia. Examples are Hitler, who sought to triumph only the “right” peoples.
In Russia, too, more than once attempts have been made to use xenophobia to achieve political goals. The object of hatred was the Jews and residents of the mountainous Caucasus.
Today, there is a massive migration to Russia of citizens of China, Vietnam and African states. Therefore, it makes sense again to raise the question of what xenophobia is in modern society. Skinhead youth groups, football fans and other destructive forces often use xenophobic statements in their slogans.
The task of the state is to destroy the manifestation of natural xenophobia. For this, it is necessary to educate and educate different peoples culturally. Introduce them to each other's traditions and create atmospheres conducive to their rapprochement and cooperation.
