When studying the social thought of Russia, it is impossible to pass by the 40s of the 19th century, when the ideas of the Slavophiles and Westerners were formed. Their disputes did not end with the last century and still have political significance, especially in the light of recent events.
The situation of the 19th century
At the beginning of the 19th century, Russia remained a feudal country with a feudal mode of production, in contrast to Europe, where the process of establishing capitalist bourgeois relations began. Thus, the economic backwardness of the Russian empire increased, which gave reason to think about the need for transformations. By and large, they were started by Peter the First, but the results were inadequate. At the same time, bourgeois relations paved their way in Europe through revolutions, blood and violence. Developed competition, increased exploitation. The latest facts did not inspire many representatives of Russian social thought. There was quite an understandable argument about the further development of the state, especially since in the domestic policy the emperors rushed from one extreme to the other. Slavophiles and Westerners are two opposite ways for Russia, but everyone had to lead it to prosperity.
In response to the movement of the Slavophiles
Almost two centuries in the circle of the upper classes of the Russian state, a fondness for Europe and its achievements was formed. Russia has been increasingly transformed, trying to be like the Western countries. AS Khomyakov first brought to the attention of the general public the idea of a special way of development of our state - on the basis of collectivism manifested in the rural community. This eliminated the need to emphasize the backwardness of the state and to be equal to Europe. Around the stated theses came together thinkers, primarily writers. They began to be called Slavophils. Westerners are a kind of response to the above-described movement. Representatives of Westernism, based on the ideas of George Hegel, saw a single trend in the development of all countries in the world.
Philosophical basis of Westernism
Throughout the history of human thought, the question formulated by Paul Gauguin sounds : "Who are we? Where? Where?". In regard to the last part, three points of view were singled out. Some said that humanity is degrading. Others - that moves in a circle, that is, develops cyclically. Still others claimed to be progressing. Westerners are thinkers who adhere to the latter point of view. They believed that history is progressive, has one vector of development, while Europe has overtaken other regions of the world and has determined the path by which all other nations will go. Therefore, all countries, like Russia, should be guided by the achievements of European civilization in all spheres of society without exception.
Westerners against the Slavophils
So, in the 40s of the 19th century, the ideological confrontation "Slavophiles - Westerners" developed. A table comparing the basic postulates will best demonstrate their views on the past and future of the Russian state.
Ideas of the Slavophiles and Westerners | Westernizers | Comparison questions | Slavophiles |
| One with Europe | Way of development | Original, special |
| Backward compared with Western countries | The position of Russia | It is impossible to compare with other states |
| Positive, he contributed to the progress of the country | Attitude to the reforms of Peter the Great | Negative, he destroyed the existing civilization |
| Parliamentary monarchy, constitutional system with civil rights and freedoms | The political structure of Russia | Autocracy, but the type of patriarchal power. The power of opinion is to the people (Zemsky Sobor), the power of power is to the tsar. |
| Negative | Attitude to serfdom | Negative |
Representatives of Westernism
An important role in the great bourgeois reforms of the 60s and 70s was played by Westerners. Representatives of this social thought acted not only as ideological inspirers of state reforms, but also took part in their development. Thus, Konstantin Kavelin, an active public position, whose pen belongs to the "Note on the Liberation of the Peasants." Timofei Granovsky, professor-historian, advocated the continuation of the reforms laid back at the beginning of the eighteenth century, for an active enlightened state policy. Around him and united like-minded people, which include I. Turgenev, V. Botkin, M. Katkov, I. Vernadsky, B. Chicherin. The ideas of Westerners are at the heart of the most progressive reform of the 19th century - the judiciary, which laid the foundations of the rule of law and civil society.
The fate of Westerners
It often happens that in the process of the development of the social movement, its further fragmentation, that is, a split, takes place. Westerners were no exception. This concerns, first of all, the allocation of a radical group that proclaims a revolutionary way of making changes. It included V. Belinsky, N. Ogarev and, of course, A. Herzen. At a certain stage, a convergence of Slavophiles and revolutionary Westerners occurred, which believed that the peasant community could become the basis of the future structure of the society. But it was not decisive. In general, the confrontation between the ideas of the original path of development of Russia, up to the special role of our civilization in the world, and the need for Western orientation remained. Currently, the watershed takes place mainly in the political sphere, in which Westerners stand out. Representatives of this movement advocate integration into the European Union, seeing in this the way out of the civilizational deadlock, which was included in the period of the construction of socialism.