Russian men grapple with growing stigma as global perception of Russia plummets

Research comparing two waves of interviews with Russian men before and after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine finds a dramatic erosion of national pride. In the earlier series, participants expressed a secure, positive view of their country; in the later series, only two out of 27 used unequivocally positive language. Many now label Russia a “pariah,” a “bully with the nuclear baton,” or even compare it to fictional villains.

To manage the resulting stigma, interviewees adopt varied tactics: some, like Dmitry in the UK, speak less about being Russian and hope a victory will restore status; others, such as Petr in Russia, distance themselves from state decisions while emphasizing traditional masculine roles; still others, like Pavel, reject Russia’s imperial legacy and align with more “civilised” powers. The analysis ties these personal coping mechanisms to broader masculine and geopolitical narratives of power and hierarchy.