Russian Conservatism
How does Russian society view itself and how does that frame their attitude to the Ukraine conflict?
[Image: a frame from the discussion summarized.]
Published: 2023-04-09
Introduction
Alexander Mercouris is joined by Professors Glenn Diesen and Paul Robinson for a discussion on Russian Conservatism. Following a brief examination of Russian Federation President Putin's world view, the core topic is defined and explored. Finally, how this concept is a component of modern Russian society is examined, particularly with respect to how Russia views the Ukraine conflict as opposed to how this is presented in western media.
Putin describes himself as a conservative pragmatist. The interlocutors agree, adding that Putin is not an ideologue or academic (as opposed to someone like Stalin). Pragmatism is dominant.
Russian Conservatism
The agreed core of conservatism is incremental change and the preservation of a cultural identity. The challenge for Russia is to form a unified identity which embraces the disparate elements of Russia's thousand year history. This begins with the Kievan Rus and Christian Orthodoxy. Following the subjugation to the Mongols the Rus emerge with an aristocracy, the Tsars, which rule for centuries until the Russian Revolution. Amongst their leaders are both expansionists and isolationists.
Recently, concepts from 19th century Russian philosophers, particularly those of Russian Conservatism and Eurasianism have re-emerged. A challenge for conservatism is to reforge an identity which includes the communist period and even the free market capitalist plunder of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Two specific examples of embracing contradictions which are inherent in Russia's history are given. The first is an Orthodox priest spreading incense over a monument to Russian soldiers from the Great Patriotic War (Russia's part of WWII). During this period of communist rule the church was banned. The second contradictory embrace is the erection of monuments which celebrate both the white and red combatants during the Russian Revolution.
Professor Robinson describes Eurasianism as a concept with utility rather than one that forms a core part of Russian identity. Russia's land area spans from Europe to the Pacific. Eurasianism includes ideas that peoples with languages derived from or incorporating Russian are related cultures. During the communist period this eased the inclusion of the central Asian states into the USSR.
Returning to Russian conservatism, it involves a sense of "home". This is also reflective of the isolationist leaders. Russia should not be "spreading its light" into Europe or elsewhere but staying at home and caring for its soul. Russian conservatism is not a military conservatism but a cultural and spiritual one. Professor Diesen observes that Christian Orthodoxy is the only constant across the millennium of Russian society.
The collective West became entranced with Fukiyama's "End of History" concept after the dissolution of the USSR. This concept proposes that all of human society is moving to a single end point, which is liberal capitalism. Together with conservatism Russia is taking a different view, that human society is composed of different civilizations which are exploring their own futures in their own way. Robinson notes the President Putin used the term "civilization" twenty times during his most recent speech at the Valdai Discussion Club. This idea of different civilizations exploring their own futures is a part of the philosophical foundation for the multipolar world which the non-West are creating.
Narrative or Cultural Identity
The discussion concludes by considering the different ways in which Russia and the West are viewing the conflict in Ukraine. The narrative being promoted in the West is "Democracy vs. Autocracy". This is obviously poor as Russia is a democracy. The Russian Duma passed the resolution to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and the Lugansk Peoples Republics overwhelmingly. It was this that legalized the ability for Russia to send them aid, including military aid. This also enabled the use of UN Charter section 51 to provide an international legal basis for the same. Obviously, this does not legalize the invasion of other Ukrainian oblasts.
Returning to the conceptual world, how does Russia look upon the conflict? Here we return to "home". From Russia's perspective they are coming to the aid of Russian people, Russian in culture and language if not also ethnicity. These lands of Eastern Ukraine are an ancient part of Russia. Its in the name, Kievan Rus.
An oft misquoted statement by Putin is that the dissolution of the USSR was one of the great tragedies of the USSR. It is misquoted because people stop the quote there. He continues, expressing that the tragedy was millions of Russians trapped in former USSR states in which they become oppressed minorities. They lost their home.
If we recognize the re-emergence of Russian conservatism and combine that with the independent civilizational view of history and the utility of the concept of Eurasianism we can begin to understand modern Russia's approach to its future and how this is also rooted in its own past history and philosophy.
I highly recommend taking the time to listen to the discussion.
Source
Russia conservatism. Ideological conflict w/ West - Paul Robinson, Alexander Mercouris, Glenn Diesen, Mercouris and Prof. Diesen interview Prof. Robinson, The Duran, 2023-04-08
Culture
Russian Easter Overture - Slavic Chorale Orchestra, Slavic Chorale conducted by Pavel Kravchuk composed by Rimsky-Korsakov, Slavic Chorale, uploaded 2015-03-12
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