Reinventing Russia: Russian Nationalism and the Soviet State, 1953-1991 (Russian Research Center Studies, No 91 (Paper))

What caused the emergence of nationalist movements in many post-communist states? What role did communist regimes play in fostering these movements? Why have some been more successful than others? To address these questions, Yitzhak Brudny traces the Russian nationalist movement from its origins within the Russian intellectual elite of the 1950s to its institutionalization in electoral alliances, parliamentary factions, and political movements of the early 1990s. Brudny argues that the rise of the Russian nationalist movement was a combined result of the reinvention of Russian national identity by a group of intellectuals, and the Communist Party's active support of this reinvention in order to gain greater political legitimacy. The author meticulously reconstructs the development of the Russian nationalist thought from Khrushchev to Yeltsin, as well as the nature of the Communist Party response to Russian nationalist ideas. Through analysis of major Russian literary, political, and historical writings, the recently-published memoirs of the Russian nationalist intellectuals and Communist Party officials, and documents discovered in the Communist Party archives, Brudny sheds new light on social, intellectual, and political origins of Russian nationalism, and emphasizes the importance of ideas in explaining the fate of the Russian nationalist movement during late communist and early post-communist periods. (20070616)

What caused the emergence of nationalist movements in manypost-communist states? What role did communist regimes play infostering these movements? Why have some been more successful thanothers? To address these questions, Yitzhak Brudny traces theRussian nationalist movement from its origins within the Russianintellectual elite of the 1950s to its institutionalization inelectoral alliances, parliamentary factions, and politicalmovements of the early 1990s.

Brudny argues that the rise of the Russian nationalist movementwas a combined result of the reinvention of Russian nationalidentity by a group of intellectuals, and the Communist Party'sactive support of this reinvention in order to gain greaterpolitical legitimacy. The author meticulously reconstructs thedevelopment of the Russian nationalist thought from Khrushchev toYeltsin, as well as the nature of the Communist Party response toRussian nationalist ideas. Through analysis of major Russianliterary, political, and historical writings, therecently-published memoirs of the Russian nationalist intellectualsand Communist Party officials, and documents discovered in theCommunist Party archives, Brudny sheds new light on social,intellectual, and political origins of Russian nationalism, andemphasizes the importance of ideas in explaining the fate of theRussian nationalist movement during late communist and earlypost-communist periods.

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgments

1. Russian Nationalists in Soviet Politics 2. The Emergence ofPolitics by Culture, 1953-1964 3. The First Phase of InclusionaryPolitics, 1965-1970 4. The Rise and Fall of Inclusionary Politics,1971-1985 5. What Went Wrong with the Politics of Inclusion? 6.What Is Russia, and Where Should It Go? Political Debates,1971-1985 7. The Zenith of Politics by Culture, 1985-1989 8. TheDemise of Politics by Culture, 1989-1991 Epilogue: RussianNationalism in Postcommunist Russia

Notes Index

Reviews of this book: Mr. Brudny provides a salient background tounderstanding one of the great phenomena of post-1945 history: howRussians arrive at their view of the West. --Ron Laurenzo,Washington Times Reviews of this book: Brudny is a good guide tothe origins of what probably lies ahead. --Geoffrey A. Hosking,Times Literary Supplement Reviews of this book: If readers thinkthat today's anti-Western, antimarket, antisemitic variety ofRussian nationalism is simply the fallout from the country'scurrent misery, they should think again. With care andintelligence, Brudny traces its lineage back to the Khrushchevyears. What began among the so-called village prose writers as alament for a rural past ravaged by Stalin's experimentationgradually accumulated further grievances: the devastation ofRussian culture and monuments, the infiltration of 'corrupting'Western values, and ultimately under Gorbechev the 'criminal'destruction of Russian power. Much of the book concentrates on howKhrushchev and Brezhnev tried--but ultimately failed--to harnessthis discontent for their own purposes. --Robert Legvold, ForeignAffairs Reviews of this book: Brudny's survey of relations betweenRussian nationalism and the Soviet state provides anin-depth insight into one of the most complicated aspects of theSoviet multi-national state. --Taras Kuzio, International AffairsReviews of this book: A thought-provoking book. --VirginiaQuarterly Reviews of this book: Brudny shows that Russian culturalnationalism was a powerful force in the post-Stalin years, withultimate political consequences. In meticulous detail Brudny setsout the various strains of Russian nationalism and points to theregime's encouragement of a certain kind of nationalism as a meansof bolstering legitimacy through the 'politics of inclusion'...Thisvolume is a significant contribution to the literature. --R. J.Mitchell, Choice Reviews of this book: In ReinventingRussia, situated at the intersection of culture (specificallythe literature of the village prose movement) and politics, Brudnyhas managed admirably to draw out the wider implications of hisinquiry and provided an extremely useful set of orientation pointsin the current, seemingly so chaotic, political debate in Russia.--Hans J. Rindisbacher, European Legacy Reviews of this book:Brudny's book paints a fascinating picture. It delineates a richSoviet culture and society, one that is much more varied than hasbeen previously depicted by most Western researchers. Theoverriding importance of the book derives from its argument thatthe post-Stalinist cultural debate in the Soviet Union is whatcreated the infrastructure for the seemingly odd alliance betweencommunist ideology and the nationalist intelligentsia--today's'red-brown' alliance. It's a significant contribution to ourunderstanding of the history of the nationalistidea...[Reinventing Russia provides] an enthrallingoverview of a historic development that has been neglected by mostWestern researchers...His book proves once more that anyone whoseeks to understand developments in Eastern Europe cannot do so bymerely analyzing the economic policy of the political maneuvers ofthe governing elite. --Shlomo Avineri, Ha'aretz Book Review YitzhakBrudny offers us a most persuasive attempt to explain theintricate, often puzzling relation between Soviet political andcultural bureaucracy and the rise of Russian nationalism in thepost-Stalin era. His analysis of Russian nationalist ideology andits role in the corrosion of the official Soviet dogmas is uniquelyinsightful and provocative. Students of Soviet and post-Sovietaffairs will find in Brudny's splendidly researched book anindispensable instrument to grasp the meaning of the stillperplexing developments that led to the breakdown of the Leniniststate. In the growing body of literature dealing with nationalismand national identity, this one stands out as boldly innovative,theoretically challenging, and culturally sophisticated. --VladimirTismaneanu, University of Maryland, College Park, author ofFantasies of Salvation Yitzhak Brudny has produced animpressive and scholarly account of the divisions within theRussian political and cultural elite during the last four decadesof the Soviet Union's existence. His book is important both for thefresh light it throws on that period and as essential context forinterpreting the debates on nationhood and statehood which rage inRussia today. --Archie Brown, University of Oxford ReinventingRussia provides us with a vivid portrayal of the politicsbehind the rise of Russian nationalism in post-Stalinist Russia. Itis a finely detailed study of not only the relationship ofpolitical authority to the spread of nationalist ideas, but alsoreciprocally of the role played by these ideas in shaping thepolitical. --Mark Beissinger, University of Wisconsin-Madison Rivalnationalists literally shook the Soviet Union apart. The verystructure of the Soviet state encouraged all major ethnicgroups--including the Russians--to view battles over resources interms of ethnic and national conflict. Brudny, in this importantstudy, explores precisely how rival nationalist claims emergedduring the years following Stalin's death, and why they proved tobe simultaneously so robust and pernicious. --Blair Ruble,Director, Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson Center

What caused the emergence of nationalist movements in many post-communist states? What role did communist regimes play in fostering these movements? Why have some been more successful than others? To address these questions, Yitzhak Brudny traces the Russian nationalist movement from its origins within the Russian intellectual elite of the 1950s to its institutionalization in electoral alliances, parliamentary factions, and political movements of the early 1990s.

Brudny argues that the rise of the Russian nationalist movement was a combined result of the reinvention of Russian national identity by a group of intellectuals, and the Communist Party's active support of this reinvention in order to gain greater political legitimacy. The author meticulously reconstructs the development of the Russian nationalist thought from Khrushchev to Yeltsin, as well as the nature of the Communist Party response to Russian nationalist ideas. Through analysis of major Russian literary, political, and historical writings, the recently-published memoirs of the Russian nationalist intellectuals and Communist Party officials, and documents discovered in the Communist Party archives, Brudny sheds new light on social, intellectual, and political origins of Russian nationalism, and emphasizes the importance of ideas in explaining the fate of the Russian nationalist movement during late communist and early post-communist periods.

What Caused The Emergence Of Nationalist Movements In Many Post-communist States? What Role Did Communist Regimes Play In Fostering These Movements? Why Have Some Been More Successful Than Others? To Address These Questions, Yitzhak Brudny Traces The Russian Nationalist Movement From Its Origins Within The Russian Intellectual Elite Of The 1950s To Its Institutionalization In Electoral Alliances, Parliamentary Factions, And Political Movements Of The Early 1990s.--jacket. Russian Nationalists In Soviet Politics -- The Emergence Of Politics By Culture, 1953-1964 -- The First Phase Of Inclusionary Politics, 1965-1970 -- The Rise And Fall Of Inclusionary Politics, 1971-1985 -- What Went Wrong With The Politics Of Inclusion? -- What Is Russia, And Where Should It Go? Political Debates, 1971-1985 -- The Zenith Of Politics By Culture, 1985-1989 -- The Demise Of Politics By Culture, 1989-1991 -- Epilogue; Russian Nationalism In Postcommunist Russia. Yitzhak M. Brudny. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 267-335) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 1 Russian Nationalists in Soviet Politics......Page 14 2 The Emergence of Politics by Culture, 1953–1964......Page 41 3 The First Phase of Inclusionary Politics, 1965–1970......Page 70 4 The Rise and Fall of Inclusionary Politics, 1971–1985......Page 107 5 What Went Wrong with the Politics of Inclusion......Page 145 6 What Is Russia, and Where Should It Go? Political Debates, 1971–1985......Page 163 7 The Zenith of Politics by Culture, 1985–1989......Page 205 8 The Demise of Politics by Culture, 1989–1991......Page 239 Epilogue: Russian Nationalism in Postcommunist Russia......Page 272 Notes......Page 280 Index......Page 350 One of the main features of the democratization processes at work in Eastern Europe and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in the late 1980s was the emergence of nationalist movements in virtually every country of the region.