Open Lecture by David S. Foglesong

On Friday, March 29, at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs Professor David S. Foglesong gave an open lecture on 'The American Global Mission and the Demonization of Russia'.

David S. Foglesong is a Professor at Rutgers University (The State University of New Jersey), author of “The American Mission and the 'Evil Empire': The Crusade for a 'Free Russia' since 1881”.

In his talk, Professor S. Foglesong demonstrated in historical perspective the evolution of American thought towards Russia, which is characterized by two key elements: the demonization of the image of Russia, on the one hand, and the commitment to the ideas of the American global mission, on the other hand. In his lecture, the Professor described each stage of the history of such views from 1881 to the present day.

David S. Foglesong revealed in detail the role of journalists, political activists, propagandists, missionaries, diplomats in the process of formation of this thinking, paying particular attention to the impact of religious belief on the sense of duty of the Americans to liberate, convert, or reform Russia.

At the end of the lecture, the Professor urged all those present to strive to abandon mutual demonization and to participate in a qualitative change in Russian-American relations, which are actually in a state of a “new cold war”.