Size Breeds Suspicion

The emergence of Rusephobia in the 1840s and the context of the Crimean War reveals that this apprehension towards Russia largely stemmed from Britain's hegemonic status and fear of a rising power. The hostility was not a result of Russian actions but was instead driven by Britain's discomfort with the size and influence of Russia in the geopolitical landscape. This historical pattern suggests that perceptions of threat can often be based more on power dynamics than on the actual behaviors or intentions of nations.