Emmanuel Carrère on Russia: 'They Don't Understand Us, They Hate Us, the Word Democracy is Devalued'

French writer and reporter Emmanuel Carrère, in a series of interviews given in March 2026 to four leading Spanish newspapers 'El Mundo', 'ABC', 'La Vanguardia', and 'La Razón', presented a sharp diagnosis of Russia's relations with the West. His statements focus on the deep misunderstanding and hostility which, in his opinion, characterize the contemporary attitude of Russians. „En Rusia no entienden nada de nosotros. Nos detestan.” (In Russia they understand nothing about us. They detest us.) — Emmanuel Carrère This statement, cited by 'El Mundo', captures the essence of his pessimism. Carrère went even further in a conversation with 'La Razón', assessing that 'the word democracy is completely discredited in Russia' ('La palabra democracia está totalmente denostada en Rusia'). His comments fit into a broader discourse on a crisis of values and civilizational difference, which became even clearer after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Emmanuel Carrère, born in 1957, is one of the most important contemporary French writers, known for the genre of non-fiction novel and literary reportage. His work often touches on Russian and post-Soviet themes, as exemplified by books like 'Limonov' (about a Russian dissident) or 'Le Royaume'. His mother, Hélène Carrère d'Encausse, was an eminent historian specializing in the history of Russia and the USSR and the Permanent Secretary of the Académie Française, which undoubtedly shaped his perspective on this region. In an interview for 'La Vanguardia', the writer referred to personal history, recalling his mother's mistaken, as it turned out, hopes. 'My mother believed in Russia, she wanted it to get closer to Europe, but she was wrong' ('Mi madre tenía fe en Rusia, quería que se acercara a Europa, pero se equivocó') – he stated. This confession highlights not only the political but also the emotional and family background of his reflections. His mother, author of the famous work 'L'Empire éclaté' predicting the collapse of the USSR, for a long time pinned hopes on Russia's European path. Carrère notes disappointment with these expectations. Beyond the Russian theme, in a conversation with 'ABC', the writer raised the issue of the Nobel Prize in Literature. He stated with characteristic self-irony that 'being a white man almost 70 years old is not ideal for winning the Nobel' ('Ser un hombre blanco de casi 70 años no es lo ideal para ganar el Nobel'). This is a comment that can be read both as an awareness of his own chances in the context of the modernization and diversification of the laureate profile by the Swedish Academy, and perhaps as a subtle critique of contemporary trends in awarding prizes. Carrère's statements, consistent across all four publications, paint a picture of a writer deeply engaged in analyzing the Russian soul and its relationship with the West. His pessimism is clear and constitutes a continuation of themes present in his work. There is no direct reference in these reports to the current war in Ukraine, but the geopolitical background is clearly present. All four interviews were published almost simultaneously on March 4, 2026, suggesting an organized promotional campaign, probably related to the Spanish edition of a new book or a series of author meetings. The Spanish press, representing various political shades, reports his words in a consistent manner, focusing on their gravity and literary authorship.