DMITRY SHLAPENTOKH
265
Europe. Therefore, Russia's desire to be part of an integrated Europe
and an equal partner cannot soon be fulfilled.
Yet despite its potential problems, post-Soviet Russia could never be
the same threat as the U.S.S.R. This is not because post-Soviet Russia has
professed adherence to democratic principles or because the country's
leaders state that Russia is part of Europe. Most Europeans have no fear
that someday they might wake up to find the Russian Army in their
midst, as they did during the war with Napoleon at the beginning of the
nineteenth century and with Nazi Germany between
J944
and
1945.
Instead, Russia's anti-Westernism-which has evolved into anti–
Americanism-may even be pleasing to some Europeans. To some
extent, Europe holds the option of using Russia as a pawn in disagree–
ments with the U.S. Thus, in the new geopolitical arrangement, the desire
for divorce comes not just from Americans but also from Europeans.
Anti-Americanism in Europe has a long history. (Of course, any pow–
erful nation gives rise
to
both positive and negative stereotypes.) Amer–
icans, both on the Left and Right, have long been aware that the country
is often viewed as imperialistic, too individualistic, and imbued with a
large dose of crass materialism and promiscuity. This negative image of
the United States is still very much alive. Since the Reagan presidency,
cartoons in the European press have represented America as a wild cow–
boy who fires his gun without concern for anyone or anything. This
image of America has been preserved in Russia, where the United States
continues to be presented as an individualistic and aggressive predator.
At the same time Russians have also maintained an image of the West
in general, and Amcrica in particular, that is not related to aggression
against other countries, but to hedonistic obsession, to a total drive for
pleasure that pushes individuals to forsake all social and moral
restraints. During a recent trip to Moscow, as I walked with a friend
down Novyi Arbat, one of the city's main boulevards, one of the build–
ings had a large billboard that prominently displayed a gorgeous blond,
seductively dressed. Underneath, the caption read, "American Club." In
that club, my friend explained, Moscow's high society indulges in friv–
olous entertainment. That in America one can brazenly pursue erotic
pleasures may be regarded as positive or negative-where the erotic
pleasures of life arc the privilege of the rich and depraved. This highly
negative view of the United States and of American values still exists, in
Russia as well as elsewhere.
Most Americans would be surprised to learn that many traits they
most revere, such as individualism and multiculturalism, can be pre–
sented in a negative light. America can be seen as a society of uninformed
