Boris Dubin: There is no constructive nationalism in Russia now

On August 4, 2006, "Moskovskiye Novosti" published an interview with the well-known sociologist Boris Dubin "Our society is not able to keep itself," in which considerable attention was paid to the problem of xenophobia in modern Russian society.

According to B. Dubin, there is a huge terminological, conceptual confusion in the public mind, which makes it extremely difficult to comprehend real problems.

First, people practically do not share doctrinal and everyday xenophobia. The level of the latter ( “come in large numbers”, “they don’t understand human language”, etc.), according to the sociologist, is probably characteristic of everyone, but it should not determine social behavior: “It is important that above the grassroots level is built on and with what simple people - whether you like it or not - are forced to reckon . B.Dubin draws the attention of readers to that. That even with the prevalence of domestic xenophobic sentiments in the same Europe and America , "schools and universities where only white Europeans or Americans study are long gone. Western culture is based on the idea of ​​diversity, plurality, which gives dynamics. On the one hand, it is this idea that stimulates ethnic and cultural plurality.On the other hand, this diversity is forced, because a number of social places no longer want to be occupied by indigenous people, so any other people are drawn in. In the first generation, a person will wash dishes in a restaurant, but the next generation will get an education and fight for a place in the sun, ahead of many, because he needs to earn social capital. If we have a future, then this is it. We need to get used to it now" .

Secondly, in Russia it is customary to "cliché" the problem, defining it with a well-known negative cliche, without thinking about the semantic content of the term. This is what happens with allegations of "fascism in Russia." Fascism is a type of political regime that is defined by a whole set of features. A single event, no matter how terrible it may be, is not fascism. "When they talk about the fascisization of society, they mean a superiority complex - be it racial, be it ideological. This complex is wrapped up with its aggressive side against any others . " In Russia, the exclusivity complex has taken the form of the “Russian idea”, the essence of which cannot be discovered, “but for anyone who swears by it, it exists at the moment. It is impossible to present it to anyone, but only with this secret sign we find ourselves united. ”

At present, "fascism" in Russia is still the lot of "narrow groups that directly stylize their behavior as fascist . " At the same time, according to B. Dubin, we now do not have what can be strictly defined as nationalism. We definitely do not have constructive nationalism, the nationalism on which national states rose in Europe during the 19th century . The constructive nationalism of Europe at that time was due to the processes of national revival and the tasks of nation-building that it set. Now the concept of the nation state of the 19th century (including the ethnic one) is outdated and needs to be revised. Now even the concept of national culture is being blurred - after all, there are already, for example, many writers who write in 2-3 languages ​​and translate themselves. "We clearly live under the constellation of the post-national, which means attachment not to history, land and blood, but to political or religious institutions, etc." .

But in order to understand what is happening in the country now, it is necessary to clearly define concepts and phenomena. For example, according to B. Dubin, if we talk about fascism and constructive nationalism as mass phenomena that characterize social groups that are on the rise, then these phenomena do not exist in Russia now.

But at the same time, one must understand that "on the one hand, there is a huge everyday xenophobia in Russia (52% support the slogan "Russia for Russians" and 60% do not consider it fascist), and on the other hand, attempts by some politicians to use xenophobic sentiments by sticking to they are labeled with national feelings and national self-determination.Nationalism in Russia, firstly, is very belated, this problem was overcome in the 70s and 80s of the XIX century, and secondly, it is nomenklatura-bureaucratic.Certain factions of the bureaucracy that feel they are not strong enough , begin to press on the national theme. They do not have other ideas and symbols in common, therefore, the archaic idea of ​​​​national belonging is reanimated (simulated) - to blood, land, a common past " . In contrast, for example, from the same Germany, which is actively engaged in intellectual work to comprehend its own past.

B.Dubin's diagnosis of modern Russian society is "fascist syndrome". "Fascism as a worldview and a system of symbols arises and spreads in specific conditions" , some of which are already present in Russia: the extreme atomization of society, coupled with extreme dependence, but distrust in the power of the individual, a powerful propaganda machine-television (" Neither newspapers, nor radio and the Internet do not make the difference. Two television channels and a single figure of the president - that's what connects the population from above " ). "The combination of fragmentation with dependence on power and a willingness to appeal directly to the will of the leader - this is the type of social organization in which fascist views and moods can arise and, excuse me, spread like a stink" .

At the same time, B. Dubin believes that the scenario of a fascist coup, which is now being actively discussed, has the right to exist, but is hardly real, simply because it is not necessary: ​​the authorities are now very well in control of the situation.

In fact, now Russia is sick. Her illness is not unique, but has a number of features: "In our case: the vast scale of the country, the extreme neglect of the disease, a very weak social structure . " The world knows many examples of healing. However, there are not so many encouraging symptoms in Russia, according to B. Dubin. And, probably, one of the main ways to healing is the active civic position of people: "If you count on the fact that everything will somehow work out by itself, this situation will exist for centuries . "

Sources

• Shapoval Sergey. Boris Dubin: "Our society is not able to keep itself" // Moscow News. 2006. 4 August.