This paper discusses the role and place of orientalism in the discourse of contemporary Russian nationalism. The concept of the international relations history by D. Galkovsky is seen as a theoretical background for the development of orientalism in the ideology of contemporary Russian nationalism. While being similar to the hegemonic theories, it describes the succession of the world orders defined by the political dominance of opposite powers: hegemon and sub-hegemon. The term “Asiatic” in this interpretation serves as an ideological instrument for the European elites to ensure their political superiority over Russia. The authors showed the interrelation of orientalist and colonial discourses in the way the contemporary Russian nationalists see the Russian government. The role of the image of the East in explaining the problems of the Caucasus and migration from Central Asia has been considered as well. The role of Orientalism in establishing a political and cultural concept of the West by Russian contemporary nationalists has been examined. The authors have come to the following conclusions: firstly, in the eyes of contemporary Russian nationalists Russia is a part of Europe resulting in their rejection of Eurasian ideas. The historical narrative of the contemporary Russian nationalism is determined by associating the Soviet and contemporary Russia with the "East." Secondly, Russian nationalist discourse has some features peculiar to Orientalism. The nationalists however do not perceive themselves as orientalists; moreover, they believe Russia to be one of the objects of Orientalism. Thirdly, not abandoning Eurocentrism Occidentalism is introduced in the discourse of the contemporary Russian nationalism. Negative qualities of the East are applied to the image of the West. The West gets on an equal footing with the East. Russia acquires more “western” characteristics than the West has, and is proclaimed to be the last bearer of authentic European qualities.

Bobrov Ivan Vladimirovich, Master’s Degree Student, Faculty of Political Science, Saint Petersburg State University, 1/3, Smolny st., St. Petersburg, 191124, Russian Federation, e-mail: ivan.v.bobrov@gmail.com 

Mikhailov Dmitrii Alekseevich, Candidate of Sciences (History), Associate Professor, Siberian Institute of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, 6, Nizhegorodskaya st., Novosibirsk, 630102, Russian Federation, e-mail: damihan@yandex.ru

Bobrov I.V., Mikhailov D.A. Orientalism in the Ideology of Contemporary Russian Nationalism. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies, 2020, vol. 31, pp. 21-35. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2020.31.21 (in Russian)

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