Images of Russia and of the West in the representations of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova
Images of Russia and of the West in the representations of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova

Summary/Abstract: The primary purpose of the research was to study the image of Russia in the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The qualitative analysis of the interview showed that the respondents, describing the image of Russia, according to a number of aspects, compared it with the image of Europe. This article describes the content of the image of Europe according to a series of categories highlighted in the empirical material (the interview): personal experience of stay in Europe: labor migration, vacation, NGOs, education; English as an international language, language of modernization; project of life and image of future development in the group of youth; role of the projects and NGOs, sponsored by the EU countries; higher and more homogenous living standard, low level of corruption, effective functioning of institutions; “prestige” of Western culture (westernization, modernization, and mass culture “simplification”); values of individualistic society (income, competition, personal property, interpersonal distance). The images of Russia and Europe are viewed as opposed against each other, and the elements of comparison are presented by the respondents in support of one or another vector. Unlike the more complicated and contradictory image of Russia the image of Europe is a pragmatically positive one, for it is defined by life strategies of Moldova’s citizens.

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