[MinorityRepublican]

Ahhh, from the Mideast Muslim view, yeah they are. The west for them means Christendom.

I see.

The Russians were influenced by the Mongols. And they are Orthodox Christians. Plus they were never influenced by the Enlightenment.

So that's why I don't view them as part of the West.

[Belteshazzar]

I didn’t say you did. I said they do.

[JadeEmperor]

>> The Russians were influenced by the Mongols. And they areOrthodox Christians.
>> Plus they were never influenced by the Enlightenment.

>> So that’s why I don’t view them as part of the West.

You are not wrong, but countries like Greece are viewed as part of the West, same with the Orthodox Christian countries fo Central Europe.

Russia had its westernizers, like Tsar Peter and Alexander II (who’s assasination IMO set history on the wrong path).

If they had stayed out of WWI or dropped out after the February revolution they might have slowly become more capitalist and democratic.

Russia’s western heritage is unfortunatly of the worst kind, i.e. Byzantine emprire legacy with its caesaropapism. Couple that with Mongol influence and you get what you get. Put a German princess at the head of it and yikes, there goes half of Poland.