Traditions And School Of Thought

Question 1

The West in Russian Philosophical Thought

Answer 1

Europe the significant other of Russia

Main philosophical question: should Russia become part of Europe? Should Russia remain as a distinct civilization with own values?

Westernizers : Support Peter‘s reforms for Europeanization of Russia ; Russia’s developement depends on the copying of Europe (ideas of French Revolution) ; after Crimean war decision between democrats and revolutionaries ; Chaddayev, Herzen, Belinsky

Slavophiles: Russian civilization is unique and superior to Western culture; they admire traditional institutions such as Orthodox Church, Mir (village communities),ancient popular assembly,autocracy; became more nationalistic after Russia‘s defeat in Crimean War; radical slavophiles more civilizational approach + Pan Slavism

Question 2

Period of Peter the Great

Answer 2

Expansion of Russia into a huge European empire: capture of Azov from the Ottoman Empire;
Great northern war against Sweden

Aggressive Reformation along western lines:
Journeys to Europe
Building of St. Petersburg 
Foundation of the Russian standing army and navy 
Calendar changes to European calendar 
Peter is titled Emperor of Russia
Social modernization 
Tax system and land reform
Reformation of the church 
New table of ranks created
Educational reforms

Question 3

The West 2 soviet period

Answer 3

Sovi Marxism is a stepchild of Western civilization,M

Bolshevism: criticizes Western constitutionalism and democratic freedoms, but accepts Western technology for economic development

Radicals: aggressive industrialisation for economic growth, No common ground with the west, Stalin type of nationalism: UdSSR is superior to the West

Moderates: gradual economic development, co existence with the west, kruschev-type of internationalism, NATO and Warsaw Pact should be desolved

Question 4

Westernizers

Answer 4

Michael Gorbatschow Arguments
Mutual security 
International cooperation 
Elimination of nuclear weapons 
Economic independence 
Common problems of east and west

Supported by foreign minister andrey kozirev
Russia is part of the west and integrated with western economic and political institutions
Threats to Russia from non democratic states
Ideal world order is based on democratic western values and human rights
Russia should enter western institutions

Marginalized weil Yeltsin nicht erfolgreich war

Question 5

Statistst

Answer 5

Became very influential in Russia foreign policy
Critical of westernise policies
Neo conservative outlook and realist world view but not anti western

Arguments:
Russia is a sovereign state and great power with his own interests maintaining international security
Russia should have mor influence in former soviet regions but do not use of force
Main threat to Russia comes from revisionist that want to change the existing balance of power in world politics
Ideal world order: a multipclar world order led by the United Nations Russia as permanent member of security council

Question 6

National democrats

Answer 6

Erneuerung von den Westernizers
Still share western values but but Russia should identify itself as Russia not as west
Arguements:
Russia is independent but also part of the international community
Russia has some national interests but should also share international interests
Ideal world order unity in diversity
Main threats come from fighters against human rights and cultural pluralism
Russia and west should act together to solve global problems

Question 7

Expansionists

Answer 7

Eurasianism
A marginal right wing political ideology
Putin und andere haben sich davon zum Teil beeinflussen lassen

Arguments
land base geopolitical empire
Geopolitical sphere of influence should be expanded in Eurasia
Main threats come from the sea based powers especially USA
Ideal world order bipolar world Eurasia represented by Russia and Atlantic

Question 8

National communists

Answer 8

Supported by communist party of Russian federation
Although there are communist they are on the right wing sidedness to national - patriot political spectrum
Highly critical of liberalism and westernise
Gorbachev as traitor

Arguements
Russia is independent and a great Eurasian power
Russia should re establish the Soviet Union
Russia should maintain the balance of power between socialists and capitalist worlds
Main threat is west and capitalism
Ideal world order bipolar system of the Cold War should continue