This paper discusses the role and place of orientalism in the discourse of contemporary Russian nationalism. The concept of the international relations history by D. Galkovsky is seen as a theoretical background for the development of orientalism in the ideology of contemporary Russian nationalism. While being similar to the hegemonic theories, it describes the succession of the world orders defined by the political dominance of opposite powers: hegemon and sub-hegemon. The term “Asiatic” in this interpretation serves as an ideological instrument for the European elites to ensure their political superiority over Russia. The authors showed the interrelation of orientalist and colonial discourses in the way the contemporary Russian nationalists see the Russian government. The role of the image of the East in explaining the problems of the Caucasus and migration from Central Asia has been considered as well. The role of Orientalism in establishing a political and cultural concept of the West by Russian contempor