Interpretations of Russian Civilizational Identity in Western Social Science

The article discusses new approaches to the study of civilizational identities in western social science and their use in the field of Russian studies. There was a rise in interest towards civilizational problematics in international relations in the 2010s which was accompanied by rejection of such approaches as the “clash of civilizations” thesis. In opposition to Huntington’s theory new research programs have been formed which focus on “plural and pluralist civilizations” and “civilizational politics”. One of the sources of these new perspectives can be found in the theoretical models of contemporary historical sociology. However, there was a predominance of the constructivist approach to the analysis of civilizational identities which does not fully appreciate the influence of historical legacies on such identities. Western research on Russian civilizational identity also often draws on the constructivist approach and focuses on ideological discourses. In their studies of Russian “civilizationism” western researchers discussed discourses of the political elite and their influence on a broader population. Such studies were based on secondary analysis of survey data as well as on the use of qualitative methods. Theoretical and methodological approaches of western scholars who analyzed Russian civilizational identity deserve careful consideration. Nevertheless, some of the conclusions of such studies need to be complemented or corrected due to their rather limited empirical base.

civilization, international relations, historical sociology, ideology, identity