Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast Andrei Tsygankov: Canceling Russia - Rise of the Western Hawks
Jan 11, 2026
Andrei P. Tsygankov, a Professor of International Relations and author of 'Canceling Russia', delves into the complex dynamics between the West and Russia. He discusses the concept of 'canceling' Russia, identifying key Western groups shaping anti-Russian sentiment. Tsygankov argues that the Ukraine war has amplified existing anti-Russian agendas rather than creating them. The conversation also covers Europe's shift from diplomacy to confrontation, the cultural isolation of Russians, and the implications of NATO expansion on Russian security concerns.
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The 'Cancel Russia' Coalition
- Western 'cancel Russia' attitude treats the whole Russian nation as culpable, not just Putin or his regime.
- The goal among hawks is isolation, maximal pressure, and strategic defeat to prevent Russia's great-power role.
War As Opportunity, Not Root Cause
- The war in Ukraine functioned as an opportunity to push long-standing anti-Russian projects rather than their root cause.
- Hawks view the conflict as a chance to settle historical scores and reshape Russia's global role.
Hegemonic Liberalism's Intolerance
- Post-Cold War Western liberalism became hegemonic and intolerant of non-Western political models.
- That universalist liberalism fuels efforts to transform or coerce nonconforming states like Russia.
