The first movement associated with Russian Nationalism was that of the Slavophiles. The Slavophiles were different from their French contemporaries, who saw their identity in relation to the French state. For the Slavophiles, culture, consisting of the Russian language and literature, and the belief in Orthodox Christendom and not so much the state brought about national unity. Vastly influenced by their German neighbors to the West, in the time of Romanticism, Slavophiles tried to cultivate and enhance the idea of a Slavic people and a national community through their writings, and by accentuating the common belief in Orthodox morality and the purity of the rural folk against the decadent West. The Slavophiles had their basis mainly among the intellectuals, what was perceived as Russia’s cultural elite. During the first half of the 19th century, Russia, as the only independent Slav state, with its vast population and its political might, was seen as the heartland of Slavic people.
It was after Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War of 1853-56, when Slavophilism emerged into a political ideology and entered the sphere of politics. Now, intellectuals wanted to put Slavophile ideas on the political agenda, which ought to liberate the smaller Slavic communities from Ottoman, Austrian, and Prussian yoke and bring them under the protection of their bigger brothers, the Russians. Despite its attractiveness and support among Russia’s intellectual elite, and other Slavic intellectuals, the Russian Tsar and officials hesitated with the political ideas of Panslavism. Not all of Russia was populated with Slavic people, but there were also Jews, Baltics and Germans. Further, not all Slavs identified themselves as Orthodox and wanted to be ruled by Russia, for example the Poles. Moreover, Panslavic ideas were responsible for nurturing independent national movements, who were fighting for their right of self-determination from any foreign rule. Confronted with the impact of these ideas, the Russian authorities half-heartedly approached Panslavism. Official Russia, in its nationality policy, pursued the russification of its Western territories through Russian language and education, but dismissed Panslavic ideas in its high politics like in foreign policy, despite in rhetoric.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Susanna Rabow-Edling, Slavophile Thought and the Politics of Cultural Nationalism
- Michael Boro Petrovich, The Emergence of Russian Panslavism, 1856-1870
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines Russian nationalism and nationality policy between 1856 and 1917, analyzing six monographs on the topic. The analysis compares and contrasts the different approaches and theses presented in these works, identifying areas of agreement and disagreement. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of scholarly interpretations of this complex historical period.
- The evolution of Russian nationalism from its roots in Slavophilism.
- The development and impact of Panslavism as a political ideology.
- The role of intellectuals and the government in shaping nationality policy.
- The complexities of Russian nationality policy in a multi-ethnic empire.
- Historiographical analysis of interpretations of Russian nationalism.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introduction establishes the historical context for the study of Russian nationalism, tracing its origins in Greco-Byzantine heritage and the political and cultural divisions between East and West. It highlights the influence of Western European nationalism and the rise of Slavophilism and Panslavism. The introduction outlines the paper's methodology, focusing on an analysis of six monographs dealing with Russian nationalism and nationality policy in the late Romanov era (1856-1917). The author intends to summarize each book, present its main thesis, analyze its supporting arguments, and finally engage in a comparative historiographical analysis to highlight similarities, complementarities, and disagreements between the different interpretations.
Susanna Rabow-Edling, Slavophile Thought and the Politics of Cultural Nationalism: Rabow-Edling challenges conventional interpretations of Slavophilism as a conservative and isolationist movement. Her thesis argues that Slavophilism represented a critical assessment of Russian society and a genuine attempt to address social problems. It was, she contends, a rational response to an identity crisis among Russian intellectuals who felt their country lagged culturally behind Europe. This cultural nationalism, distinct from political nationalism, emphasized the nation's unique cultural character as manifested in its arts, thought, and way of life, seeking to unite traditional and modern elements. The author's analysis contrasts political nationalism's focus on the state with cultural nationalism's focus on a nation's unique cultural identity. The work examines the role of intellectuals, their position between the people and the government, and their methods for disseminating their ideas despite censorship.
Michael Boro Petrovich, The Emergence of Russian Panslavism, 1856-1870: Petrovich's work examines the transformation of Slavophile thought into a political program in the aftermath of Russia's defeat in the Crimean War. His central thesis is that Panslavism, emerging from this period of national crisis, served as an outlet for a new, assertive Russian nationalism among a small but influential group of intellectuals. While acknowledging the Russian bureaucracy's relative indifference, he highlights the Panslavic press and the Moscow Slav Congress of 1867 as factors that kept the Slavic question in the public discourse. Petrovich also points out that Russian Panslavism increasingly became a counterpoint to other Panslavic movements, highlighting fundamental differences based on religion, social organization, and intellectual orientation. The book’s analysis traces the tensions between the aspirations of Panslavism and the realities of the multi-ethnic Russian Empire.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Russian nationalism, Panslavism, Slavophilism, nationality policy, cultural nationalism, political nationalism, Romanov era, Russian Empire, multi-ethnic empire, intellectual history, historiography, national identity, social reform.
Slavophile Thought, Panslavism, and Russian Nationality Policy: A Research Overview - FAQ
What is the main focus of this research overview?
This overview analyzes six monographs on Russian nationalism and nationality policy between 1856 and 1917. It compares and contrasts their approaches, identifying areas of agreement and disagreement to provide a comprehensive overview of scholarly interpretations of this complex historical period.
What are the key themes explored in the overview?
Key themes include the evolution of Russian nationalism from Slavophilism, the development and impact of Panslavism, the role of intellectuals and the government in shaping nationality policy, the complexities of Russian nationality policy in a multi-ethnic empire, and a historiographical analysis of interpretations of Russian nationalism.
Which books are summarized in the overview?
The overview summarizes Susanna Rabow-Edling's Slavophile Thought and the Politics of Cultural Nationalism and Michael Boro Petrovich's The Emergence of Russian Panslavism, 1856-1870, among others (though only these two are detailed in the provided text).
What is the argument presented in Rabow-Edling's book?
Rabow-Edling challenges traditional views of Slavophilism as conservative and isolationist. She argues it was a critical assessment of Russian society and a genuine attempt to address social problems, a cultural nationalism emphasizing the nation's unique cultural character seeking to unite traditional and modern elements.
What is the central thesis of Petrovich's book?
Petrovich argues that Panslavism emerged from Russia's defeat in the Crimean War as an outlet for assertive Russian nationalism among intellectuals. He highlights the Panslavic press and the Moscow Slav Congress of 1867 as key factors, noting tensions between Panslavism's aspirations and the realities of the multi-ethnic empire.
What is the methodology used in this research overview?
The overview employs a comparative historiographical analysis. It summarizes each book, presents its main thesis, analyzes supporting arguments, and then compares the different interpretations to highlight similarities, complementarities, and disagreements.
What is the historical context provided in the introduction?
The introduction establishes the historical context by tracing the origins of Russian nationalism in Greco-Byzantine heritage and the political and cultural divisions between East and West. It highlights the influence of Western European nationalism and the rise of Slavophilism and Panslavism.
What are some key terms associated with this research?
Key terms include Russian nationalism, Panslavism, Slavophilism, nationality policy, cultural nationalism, political nationalism, Romanov era, Russian Empire, multi-ethnic empire, intellectual history, historiography, national identity, and social reform.
What is the intended audience for this research overview?
This overview is intended for academic use, supporting the analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Pouyan Shekarloo (Author), 2009, Russian Nationalism, 1856-1917, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/144891
