The Origins of the Idea of “Civilizational” Multipolarity in Russian Religious Thought (from 19<sup>th</sup> to First Half of 20<sup>th</sup> Century)
The article explores the development of the concept of «civilizational» multipolarity in Russian religious thought from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century. This notion of «civilizational» multipolarity suggests that power centers, beyond forming a geopolitical balance, also repre...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MGIMO University Press
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/3707 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832579359630688256 |
|---|---|
| author | M. M. Medovarov |
| author_facet | M. M. Medovarov |
| author_sort | M. M. Medovarov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The article explores the development of the concept of «civilizational» multipolarity in Russian religious thought from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century. This notion of «civilizational» multipolarity suggests that power centers, beyond forming a geopolitical balance, also represent distinct civilizations. During the first half of the 19th century, Russian conservatism was predominantly Eurocentric and semi-colonial. However, in the latter half of the century, Russian religious thinkers began to recognize the plurality of civilizations and their potential to emerge as independent power centers, thereby reevaluating Russia's role in the world. Thinkers like Nikolay Danilevsky, Vladimir Lamansky, and Konstantin Leontyev progressively moved away from a colonial mindset, leading to the crystallization of the idea of «civilizational» multipolarity.At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, thinkers such as Vladimir Gringmut, Lev Tikhomirov, Prince Esper Ukhtomsky, and Sergey Syromyatnikov further advanced these ideas. They identified an «awakening of the East» and advocated for Russia to align with Eastern civilizational powers in anticipation of an imminent world war. Post-1917 revolution, the concept of «civilizational» multipolarity persisted in the Eurasianist thought of the 1920s and 1930s, which is a focal point of this article. Leaders of the Eurasianist movement, such as Prince Nikolay Trubetskoy and Petr Savitsky, developed the doctrine of autarkic «worlds»-civilizations, envisioned as large economic blocs unified by common culture, ideology, and centralized authority. Religious ideas and rhetoric, including the trope of «Babylonian confusion», played a significant role in the Eurasianists' justification of their preferred international order. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc607a7390bc4c338220137549a59bab |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2071-8160 2541-9099 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MGIMO University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc607a7390bc4c338220137549a59bab2025-01-30T12:16:18ZengMGIMO University PressVestnik MGIMO-Universiteta2071-81602541-90992024-11-0117518520710.24833/2071-8160-2024-5-98-185-2072604The Origins of the Idea of “Civilizational” Multipolarity in Russian Religious Thought (from 19<sup>th</sup> to First Half of 20<sup>th</sup> Century)M. M. Medovarov0Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny NovgorodThe article explores the development of the concept of «civilizational» multipolarity in Russian religious thought from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century. This notion of «civilizational» multipolarity suggests that power centers, beyond forming a geopolitical balance, also represent distinct civilizations. During the first half of the 19th century, Russian conservatism was predominantly Eurocentric and semi-colonial. However, in the latter half of the century, Russian religious thinkers began to recognize the plurality of civilizations and their potential to emerge as independent power centers, thereby reevaluating Russia's role in the world. Thinkers like Nikolay Danilevsky, Vladimir Lamansky, and Konstantin Leontyev progressively moved away from a colonial mindset, leading to the crystallization of the idea of «civilizational» multipolarity.At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, thinkers such as Vladimir Gringmut, Lev Tikhomirov, Prince Esper Ukhtomsky, and Sergey Syromyatnikov further advanced these ideas. They identified an «awakening of the East» and advocated for Russia to align with Eastern civilizational powers in anticipation of an imminent world war. Post-1917 revolution, the concept of «civilizational» multipolarity persisted in the Eurasianist thought of the 1920s and 1930s, which is a focal point of this article. Leaders of the Eurasianist movement, such as Prince Nikolay Trubetskoy and Petr Savitsky, developed the doctrine of autarkic «worlds»-civilizations, envisioned as large economic blocs unified by common culture, ideology, and centralized authority. Religious ideas and rhetoric, including the trope of «Babylonian confusion», played a significant role in the Eurasianists' justification of their preferred international order.https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/3707multipolaritycivilizationinternational relations theoryrussian philosophyrussian religious thoughtpan-slavismrussian conservatismeurasianism |
| spellingShingle | M. M. Medovarov The Origins of the Idea of “Civilizational” Multipolarity in Russian Religious Thought (from 19<sup>th</sup> to First Half of 20<sup>th</sup> Century) Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta multipolarity civilization international relations theory russian philosophy russian religious thought pan-slavism russian conservatism eurasianism |
| title | The Origins of the Idea of “Civilizational” Multipolarity in Russian Religious Thought (from 19<sup>th</sup> to First Half of 20<sup>th</sup> Century) |
| title_full | The Origins of the Idea of “Civilizational” Multipolarity in Russian Religious Thought (from 19<sup>th</sup> to First Half of 20<sup>th</sup> Century) |
| title_fullStr | The Origins of the Idea of “Civilizational” Multipolarity in Russian Religious Thought (from 19<sup>th</sup> to First Half of 20<sup>th</sup> Century) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Origins of the Idea of “Civilizational” Multipolarity in Russian Religious Thought (from 19<sup>th</sup> to First Half of 20<sup>th</sup> Century) |
| title_short | The Origins of the Idea of “Civilizational” Multipolarity in Russian Religious Thought (from 19<sup>th</sup> to First Half of 20<sup>th</sup> Century) |
| title_sort | origins of the idea of civilizational multipolarity in russian religious thought from 19 sup th sup to first half of 20 sup th sup century |
| topic | multipolarity civilization international relations theory russian philosophy russian religious thought pan-slavism russian conservatism eurasianism |
| url | https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/3707 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mmmedovarov theoriginsoftheideaofcivilizationalmultipolarityinrussianreligiousthoughtfrom19supthsuptofirsthalfof20supthsupcentury AT mmmedovarov originsoftheideaofcivilizationalmultipolarityinrussianreligiousthoughtfrom19supthsuptofirsthalfof20supthsupcentury |