Ideological and theoretical foundations of the Russian Empire: Orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality

Relevance. In the context of the improvement of Russian statehood, the issues of its ideological and theoretical foundations are becoming particularly relevant.

The purpose of the work is to consider the ideology of the Russian Empire as a specific form of civilizationalidentity and political legitimization.

Objective. To do this, it is proposed to solve the following tasks: to analyze the relationship between civilization and empire; to analyze the triad "Orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality" and the mechanisms of its institutional reproduction through the Church, the army, the bureaucracy and the education system.

Methodology. The methodological basis of the work consists of historical, philosophical and civilizational approaches that allow us to consider the Russian Empire as a unique political and cultural phenomenon in which sacred and cultural foundations are combined with the institutional practice of integrating a multinational space. Research approaches include the analysis of ideological constructions, the comparison of official doctrines and alternative narratives of legitimacy, as well as the study of practices for translating ideology into public life.

Results. As a result of the analysis, the ontology of the "civilizational" is clarified through the prism of the imperial form, and patterns of interaction between religious, cultural, and political-institutional factors in building legitimacyare revealed. The practical significance of the research is determined by the possibility of using the historical experience of the Russian Empire to comprehend modern strategies of political consolidation, strengthening national identity and countering ideological fragmentation in a multipolar world.

Conclusion. The stability of the Russian Empire was ensured by a combination of a universal religious and cultural basis and flexible adaptation to regional diversity, but the crisis of legitimacy came when the official ideology lost its ability to mobilize society and compete with alternative narratives ‒ liberal, socialist and national, which were mainly followed by representatives of the elite.

1. Frolovskiy G. Ways of Russian theology. Moscow: Institute of Russian Civilization; 2009. 849 p. (In Russ.)

2. Ilyin I.A. On the essence of legal consciousness. Moscow: Rarog; 1993. 235 p. (In Russ.)

3. Berdyaev N.A. The fate of Russia. Moscow: AST; 2023. 384 p. (In Russ.)

4. Nizhnik N.S., Nudnenko L.A. The history of the Russian Empire in the context of theoretical and legal analysis (On the 300th anniversary of the Russian Empire). Gosudarstvo i pravo = State and Law. 2021;(11):186-195. (In Russ.)

5. Khomyakov A.S. Letters on the conciliarity of the Church. Moscow: Pravda; 1988. 450 p. (In Russ.)

6. Bezik G.I. Activity of the Holy Synod on the leadership of the military clergy of the army of the Russian Empire in the First World War. Khristianskoe chtenie = Christian Reading. 2021;(1):205-212. (In Russ.)

7. Kappeler A. Russia as a multi-ethnic empire: origin ‒ history ‒ disintegration. Munich: C.H. Beck; 1992. 395 p. (In German.)

8. Klyuchevsky V.O. Course of Russian history. Moscow: Mysl; 1987. 432 p. (In Russ.)

9. Kurach T.L. Legal support of the territorial integrity of the Russian State in the legislation of the Russian Empire. Vestnik. Gosudarstvo i pravo = Bulletin. State and law. 2023;3(38):12-22. (In Russ.)

10. Fatyanov A.A., Mashkin N.A., Filippova A.V. The basic national idea of the Russian Empire of the 19th century and its reflection in the legislation of the 19th - early 20th centuries. Bylye gody = Bygone Years. 2023;(18):1925-1935. (In Russ.)

11. Milovanov V.I. Basic cadet traditions and rituals of the Russian Empire. Vestnik NITs VA RVSN = Bulletin of the Scientific Research Institute of the Strategic Missile Forces. 2022;(5):88-94. (In Russ.)

12. Figes O. Natasha’s dance: A cultural history of Russia. London: Penguin; 2002. 768 p.

13. Kappeler A. The Russian Empire: A multiethnic history. London: Routledge; 2001 848 p.

14. Ilyin I.A. About the coming Russia. Paris: YMCA-Press; 1928. 368 p. (In Russ.)

15. Klyuchevsky V.O. Course of Russian history. Moscow: Mysl; 1987. 414 p. (In Russ.)

16. Bocharov I.E., Mironchukovskaya V.V. Drafts of the Constitution of the Russian Empire as precursors of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Vestnik Volzhskogo universiteta im. V.N. Tatishcheva = Vestnik of Volzhsky University after V.N. Tatishchev. 2024;1(2):19-28. (In Russ.)

17. Chicherin B.N. On the people's representation. Moscow: Tip. M.G. Volchaninov; 1866. 552 p. (In Russ.)

18. Mineeva E.K., Mineev A.I., Starostin A.N. Transformation of national policy in the XX ‒ beginning of the XXI century: The Russian Empire, the USSR, the Russian Federation. Istoricheskii poisk = Historical search. 2022;3(2):20-29. (In Russ.)