Difference between revisions of "Template:Russians superiority complex (Messianism)"

From Why Dont Russians Smile The definitive guide to the differences between Russians and Americans
Jump to: navigation, search
(All Russians have a superiority complex, that we're still equal to the United States)
m (8 revisions imported)
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
|
 
|
 
''All Russians have a superiority complex, that we're still equal to the United States.''
 
''All Russians have a superiority complex, that we're still equal to the United States.''
 +
:- Elena Petrova. How To Find And Marry A Girl Like Me.<ref>Elena Petrova. (2006). [http://www.russian-women-info.com/how-to-find-and-marry-a-Russian-girl-like-me.pdf How To Find And Marry A Girl Like Me].</ref>
 
   
 
   
−
+
''The [Westerners] disappear, everything collapses….the papacy of Rome and all the kingdoms of the West, Catholicism and Protestantism, faith long lost and reason reduced to absurdity. Order becomes henceforth impossible, freedom becomes henceforth impossible, and [Westernern]  civilization commits suicide on top of all the ruins accumulated by it. … And when we see rise above this immense wreck this even more immense Eastern Empire like the Ark of the Covenant, who could doubt its mission...''
−
The [Westerners] disappear, everything collapses….the papacy of Rome and all the kingdoms of the West, Catholicism and Protestantism, faith long lost and reason reduced to absurdity. Order becomes henceforth impossible, freedom becomes henceforth impossible, and [Westernern]  civilization commits suicide on top of all the ruins accumulated by it. … And when we see rise above this immense wreck this even more immense Eastern Empire like the Ark of the Covenant, who could doubt its mission.…—Fyodor Tyutchev, The Rock of Refuge
+
:— Fyodor Tyutchev, The Rock of Refuge
 
   
 
   
 
Fyodor Tyutchev, a Russian diplomat and poet, wrote those words in 1848 in response to the liberal revolutions sweeping Western Europe in that year. He saw Western civilization as disintegrating while Russian civilization, morally and spiritually superior, was rising.
 
Fyodor Tyutchev, a Russian diplomat and poet, wrote those words in 1848 in response to the liberal revolutions sweeping Western Europe in that year. He saw Western civilization as disintegrating while Russian civilization, morally and spiritually superior, was rising.
 +
 +
Russian Orthodox Christianity with its mystical and otherworldly perspective is believed to have imparted on Russian politics a grand image of Russia's spiritual destiny to guide mankind.<ref>Ana Siljak. (December 2016). Nikolai Berdiaev and the Origin of Russian Messianism. The Journal of Modern History. Volume 88, Number 4. https://doi.org/10.1086/688982 </ref>
 
   
 
   
−
Messianism is still alive in Russia today, particularly among intellectuals, on the left as well as the right, who share a belief and pride in Russia as a great power with a special mission in the world. Economist Mikhail F. Antonov, for example, in an interview with The New York Times Magazine, showed that Tyutchev’s belief in Russia’s messianic mission and superiority was still very much alive.
+
Messianism is still alive in Russia today particularly among intellectuals on the left as well as the right, who share a belief and pride in Russia as a great power with a special mission in the world. Economist Mikhail F. Antonov, for example, in an interview with The New York Times Magazine, stated:
 
   
 
   
−
“Let other countries surpass us in the technology of computer production, but only we can provide an answer to the question: Why? For whose sake? We are the only legitimate heirs to the great, spiritual Russian culture. The saving of the world will come from Soviet Russia.”74
+
:"Let other countries surpass us in the technology of computer production, but only we can provide an answer to the question: Why? For whose sake? We are the only legitimate heirs to the great, spiritual Russian culture. The saving of the world will come from Soviet Russia."<ref>Mikhail F. Antonov. Bill Keller. (January 28, 1990). Yearning for an Iron Hand. The New York Times Magazine. 19.</ref>
 
   
 
   
−
Tyutchev and Antonov epitomize Russian thinkers, past and present, who seek to excuse her material backwardness by acclaiming her correctness of cause, spiritual superiority, and messianic mission.
+
Russian thinkers past and present seek to excuse Russia's material backwardness by acclaiming her correctness of cause, spiritual superiority, and messianic mission.
 
   
 
   
−
“The notion of ‘Holy Russia’ runs deep,” writes Serge Schmemann of The New York Times, “of a people lacking the German’s industriousness or the American’s entrepreneurship, but endowed with unique spirituality and mission.”75
+
Serge Schmemann of The New York Times writes:
 +
:"The notion of ‘Holy Russia’ runs deep of a people lacking the German’s industriousness or the American’s entrepreneurship, but endowed with unique spirituality and mission."<ref>Serge Schmemann. (February 20, 1994). Russia Lurches Into Reform, But Old Ways Are Tenacious.  The New York Times. </ref>
 
   
 
   
−
A similar view was espoused by a contemporary Russian philosopher when author Yale Richardson asked him about Russia’s role in the world. “Russia is European on the surface,  but deep inside it is Asian, and our link between Europe and Asia is the Russian soul. Russia’s mission is to unite Europe and Asia.”
+
A similar view was espoused by a contemporary Russian philosopher when author Yale Richardson asked him about Russia’s role in the world. “Russia is European on the surface,  but deep inside it is Asian, and our link between Europe and Asia is the Russian soul. Russia’s mission is to unite Europe and Asia.”<ref>{{r}}</ref>
 
   
 
   
−
Such messianic missions are not unknown to Americans, who at times have also believed that they have something special to bring to the less fortunate—Christianity to heathens, democracy to dictatorships, and the free market to state-run economies.  
+
Such messianic missions are common throughout the history of America, who have always believed that they have something special to bring to the less fortunate — Christianity to heathens, democracy to dictatorships, and the free market to state-run economies.  
 
   
 
   
 
Americans who believe in their own mission should be sensitive to Russian messianism and fears for the future. Without great-power status, Russians fear that other countries will no longer give them the respect they are due and Russia will lose its influence in the world.
 
Americans who believe in their own mission should be sensitive to Russian messianism and fears for the future. Without great-power status, Russians fear that other countries will no longer give them the respect they are due and Russia will lose its influence in the world.

Latest revision as of 13:16, 17 February 2023

e

All Russians have a superiority complex, that we're still equal to the United States.

- Elena Petrova. How To Find And Marry A Girl Like Me.[1]

The [Westerners] disappear, everything collapses….the papacy of Rome and all the kingdoms of the West, Catholicism and Protestantism, faith long lost and reason reduced to absurdity. Order becomes henceforth impossible, freedom becomes henceforth impossible, and [Westernern] civilization commits suicide on top of all the ruins accumulated by it. … And when we see rise above this immense wreck this even more immense Eastern Empire like the Ark of the Covenant, who could doubt its mission...

— Fyodor Tyutchev, The Rock of Refuge

Fyodor Tyutchev, a Russian diplomat and poet, wrote those words in 1848 in response to the liberal revolutions sweeping Western Europe in that year. He saw Western civilization as disintegrating while Russian civilization, morally and spiritually superior, was rising.

Russian Orthodox Christianity with its mystical and otherworldly perspective is believed to have imparted on Russian politics a grand image of Russia's spiritual destiny to guide mankind.[2]

Messianism is still alive in Russia today particularly among intellectuals on the left as well as the right, who share a belief and pride in Russia as a great power with a special mission in the world. Economist Mikhail F. Antonov, for example, in an interview with The New York Times Magazine, stated:

"Let other countries surpass us in the technology of computer production, but only we can provide an answer to the question: Why? For whose sake? We are the only legitimate heirs to the great, spiritual Russian culture. The saving of the world will come from Soviet Russia."[3]

Russian thinkers past and present seek to excuse Russia's material backwardness by acclaiming her correctness of cause, spiritual superiority, and messianic mission.

Serge Schmemann of The New York Times writes:

"The notion of ‘Holy Russia’ runs deep of a people lacking the German’s industriousness or the American’s entrepreneurship, but endowed with unique spirituality and mission."[4]

A similar view was espoused by a contemporary Russian philosopher when author Yale Richardson asked him about Russia’s role in the world. “Russia is European on the surface, but deep inside it is Asian, and our link between Europe and Asia is the Russian soul. Russia’s mission is to unite Europe and Asia.”[5]

Such messianic missions are common throughout the history of America, who have always believed that they have something special to bring to the less fortunate — Christianity to heathens, democracy to dictatorships, and the free market to state-run economies.

Americans who believe in their own mission should be sensitive to Russian messianism and fears for the future. Without great-power status, Russians fear that other countries will no longer give them the respect they are due and Russia will lose its influence in the world.

Along with messianism, there is also a Russian tendency to blame others for their misfortunes, which has a certain logic. If Russians are indeed the chosen people and have a monopoly on truth, then others must be the cause of their misfortunes. Freemasons and Jews, among others, have often been blamed in the past for Russia’s troubles.


  1. ↑ Elena Petrova. (2006). How To Find And Marry A Girl Like Me.
  2. ↑ Ana Siljak. (December 2016). Nikolai Berdiaev and the Origin of Russian Messianism. The Journal of Modern History. Volume 88, Number 4. https://doi.org/10.1086/688982
  3. ↑ Mikhail F. Antonov. Bill Keller. (January 28, 1990). Yearning for an Iron Hand. The New York Times Magazine. 19.
  4. ↑ Serge Schmemann. (February 20, 1994). Russia Lurches Into Reform, But Old Ways Are Tenacious. The New York Times.
  5. ↑ Richmond, Yale. (2008). From Nyet to Da: Understanding the New Russia. Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
Retrieved from "https://whydontrussianssmile.com/index.php?title=Template:Russians_superiority_complex_(Messianism)&oldid=1173"