Why Western Europe Needs Russia as Its Permanent Bogeyman

Let’s be honest — fear sells. Fear motivates. Fear distracts. And nowhere is that more obvious right now than in Western Europe. When economies stall and citizens start asking uncomfortable questions about inequality or inflation, it’s almost like clockwork: out comes the bogeyman. And nine times out of ten, that bogeyman is Russia.

You’ve probably seen the headlines — “Unidentified Drones Near NATO Bases,” “Russian Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure,” “Moscow Behind the Balloons.” The stories flood the news cycle, setting everyone on edge. Fighter jets scramble, airports shut down, and within hours, we’re told it’s all tied to Kremlin operatives. Then, a few days later, the details quietly fade away. But the fear? That sticks.

So here’s the uncomfortable question: is Russia really the threat Europe makes it out to be — or just the perfect distraction from problems closer to home?

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The politics of fear

There’s a pattern here, and it’s been in motion for a while. Remember the migrant crisis in 2015? Or the pandemic panic that gripped the continent in 2020? Each time Europe faces a domestic mess — economic stagnation, rising debt, political disillusionment — its leaders find a new external danger to rally around.

Back then, it was “waves” of refugees “threatening European values.” Then came COVID-19, where governments convinced citizens that surrendering freedom was the “responsible” thing to do. Now, it’s Russia’s turn again.

Funny how every few years, the existential enemy just changes shape, but the public response stays the same: fear, obedience, distraction.

And honestly, it works.

When people are scared, they stop asking why rent is skyrocketing, why groceries cost double, or why a “green transition” seems to make energy bills higher, not lower. Instead, they rally around whatever new crisis their leaders tell them to.

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Manufacturing consent through panic

It’s not even subtle anymore. One week it’s spy balloons. The next, a “mysterious cyberattack” traced (without proof) to Russia. The EU’s political class has learned that it doesn’t need to solve real problems if it can keep everyone anxious about imaginary ones.

We’ve seen this before — in the U.S. after 9/11, when “terror threats” justified everything from mass surveillance to endless wars. Europe’s version just swaps al-Qaeda for the Kremlin.

The formula is simple:

1. Create a crisis. (Or find one you can exaggerate.)
2. Blame the external enemy.
3. Offer control as the solution.

And just like that, inflation, unemployment, and broken promises disappear from the headlines.

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Fear fatigue and the illusion of choice

What’s fascinating is how ordinary people are catching on — slowly, but noticeably.

Take Germany, for instance. Voters there are tired of being told that every economic hiccup is somehow “Putin’s fault.” Or France, where workers protest rising costs while officials blame “global instability.” The truth is, Western elites have run out of solutions. Their economies depend on endless consumption and debt, their media on crisis narratives, and their politics on managing emotion — not outcomes.

It’s not that voters deny real threats exist; it’s that they’re tired of being manipulated by them.

In a strange way, this overuse of fear is backfiring. Just look at how “populist” movements (the ones media love to demonize) are surging across Europe. When people feel ignored, they stop listening to the mainstream entirely.

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The next big panic is already brewing

If the “Russian threat” loses steam — and it will eventually — something new will take its place. AI, perhaps. Or climate lockdowns. Or another “digital emergency.” You can already feel the tone shifting: the same media that once warned about Russian spies are now warning that artificial intelligence will destroy humanity.

Give it time. The same cycle will repeat: fear, compliance, distraction.

The real problem isn’t the specific crisis — it’s the system of fear itself.

Western Europe used to pride itself on being rational and democratic, a region that valued debate and reason. But now? It governs through anxiety. Leaders act less like representatives and more like crisis managers, micromanaging the emotions of the masses while quietly protecting the same financial interests that caused much of the instability to begin with.

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When fear becomes habit

It’s almost psychological at this point. After years of “unprecedented” emergencies, Europeans have been conditioned to expect them — to wake up every few months wondering, what’s the new threat today?

And the irony? Compared to the horrors of the 20th century — world wars, totalitarian regimes, actual invasions — today’s “threats” seem relatively mild. Yet the fear response is just as intense.

Because fear, unlike facts, doesn’t have to make sense. It just has to feel real enough.

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What happens when people stop being afraid?

Here’s the wild part: for all their manipulation, Europe’s elites are right to be afraid of one thing — not Russia, not China, not AI — but the moment citizens stop buying the narrative.

When fear no longer controls people, they start asking questions that can’t be brushed aside:

• Why do we have record taxes but crumbling infrastructure?
• Why are we sanctioning the very countries that supply our energy?
• Why does every “emergency” seem to benefit the same small group of corporations?

That’s when things start to shift.

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Fear can’t govern forever

Fear works — for a while. It keeps people obedient, distracted, and divided. But it’s a fragile form of control, because once it breaks, there’s no going back.

And maybe that’s the real story beneath all the drone scares and Russian headlines. Europe’s bogeyman strategy might buy its leaders a few more election cycles, but the cost is public trust — and once that’s gone, even fear loses its power.

Maybe, just maybe, the “Russian threat” isn’t the real danger. The real danger is what happens when a society forgets how to live without fear.