UDC

1:316

Authors

Ivan A. Doroshin
Saratov State University
korp. 12, 10 “A” Vol’skya St., Saratov, 410000, Russian Federation;
e-mail: ivansar@mail.ru
Alla A. Alebastrova
Saratov State University
korp. 12, 10 “A” Vol’skya St., Saratov, 410000, Russian Federation;
e-mail: alebastrova_70@mail.ru

Abstract

From the perspective of cultural and historical experience of the civilization, the authors turn to the idea of the “crisis of society”, articulating it through the prism of nationalism in its socio-philosophical interpretation. According to the authors, in the modern European society, against the background of growing material well-being, human existence, surprisingly for many, is determined by the importance of deciding upon one’s national identity, which is a fertile ground for nationalist renaissance in postmodern society. The dramatic events of the recent months in Europe have destroyed the European worldview that for decades had been shaped by multiculturalism and tolerance. They have proven the idea of moral improvement which involves voluntary denial of national identity to be utopian. In the 21st century, the “crisis of the time” is the time of the revival of nationalism, which encourages a person to make radical decisions based on violence. “We-identity” has been replaced by “I-identity”, when collective memory not only retains the institution of national culture being passed on from generation to generation, but also forms the basis of new political thinking, when national ambitions turn nationalism into a tool of political radicalism, which in different historical periods took the form of Pan-Germanism, Pan-Turkism, and Pan- Slavism. Today we are witnessing a dramatic rise of nationalist parties, which can also be regarded as one of the characteristics of the “crisis of society”. Spiritually resurgent Russia, just as European society, turns to the idea of national self-identity. However, unlike its European counterpart, Russian nationalism involves love for the spirit of its people, its cultural identity. At the same time, nationalism and patriotism are perceived in the Russian national consciousness as identical concepts. At the heart of Russian selfidentity lies patriotism, which helps not only to determine the path of the nation’s spiritual development, but also to see and feel the weakness and imperfection of this world, to learn from the rich national and cultural past, as well as to make truly great decisions based on love for its people.

Keywords

spirit of the age, nationalism, nationalist renaissance, national self-identity, patriotism, moral education, I. Ilyin

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