Anglo-Saxons (slur)

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"Anglo-Saxons" (Russian: Англосаксы, romanized: Anglosaksy) is a derogatory propagandistic term used by the government of Russia under President Vladimir Putin and pro-Kremlin media in Russia to refer to the Anglosphere,^[1] especially the United Kingdom and the United States.^[2][3]

The term Anglo-Saxons historically refers to Germanic tribes who settled in Great Britain in the 5th century. In modern Russian political discourse, the so-called "Anglo-Saxons" stand in civilizational opposition to the Eurasian Russian world and hold irreconcilable differences.^[3] Russian political scientist in exile Vladimir Pastukhov has described the "Anglo-Saxons" as occupying a "mythical" quality in the mind of Kremlin ideologues.^[4] The United Kingdom and United States are especially referred to by the term because they are perceived as "particularly die-hard adversaries of Russia."^[5] In pro-Kremlin media, the term is synonymously used with "Anglo-Zionists", "globalists", and "shadow rulers".^[3]

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the supposed struggle of Russia against "Anglo-Saxons" has especially become a central theme of Russian propaganda.^[4] Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov and Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova are among the most prolific users of the term.^[6]

"Anglo-Saxons" is similar to, though not synonymous with, the Russian propaganda phrase "the collective West". "Anglo-Saxons" also has implications that the Western world opposed to the Putin regime is not completely united, and that the English-speaking countries are not connected much to Europe.^[6]

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."^[7]