№ 6 - 2004
Lukin A.V.
The Image of China in Russian Social Consciousness: Continuity and Evolution

The subject discussed in the article is evolution of the image of China in Russian social consciousness. Although the genesis of the images of foreign countries in social consciousness is considerably influenced by geopolitical reality data (geographical situation, size of territory, relative size of the population, balance of forces etc.), in their evolution, however, such images, according to the author’s appraisal, are subjected to the same regularities as other types of ideas of political realities. The author demonstrates that the modern image of China in Russia has formed on the basis of historical and borrowed ideas reinterpreted in accordance with Soviet political culture and with the real geopolitical situation. At the same time, according to his conclusion, as the generation which has grown up in post-Soviet surroundings is growing socially active, Soviet political culture is gradually dying off and its influence on ideas of political realities is decreasing. In the meantime, the influence of the pre-Soviet culture and of foreign cultures is increasing. Nevertheless the ideas that have come therefrom, far from existing just as they are, are being, instead, assimilated by the new post-Soviet cultural system.