The Reform Activities of Peter I and Cultural Dualism in Russia: a Perspective from G.P. Fedotov

The creative legacy of the Orthodox historian and thinker Georgy Petrovich Fedotov (1886-1951) is marked by a wealth of ideas and considerable complexity. A central theme in his work is the uniqueness of the Russian historical process, which was particularly sharpened by the 1917 revolution in Russia. Fedotov believed that one of the main factors contributing to the radical nature of this revolution was the cultural dualism stemming from the reformist activities of Peter I, a condition that persisted until the 20th century. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Fedotov’s historical and religious views on Peter’s reforms and the cultural dualism they engendered in the country. The sources for this article include monographs and articles by the scholar, published during his years in exile (1925-1951), that address this issue in various ways. In his research, Fedotov relied on an interdisciplinary strategy, combining scientific methods of inquiry with various Christian ideas. He examined the reform activities of Peter I through the lens of the broader East-West problem. He emphasized the unity of Christian and Greco-Roman cultural roots in both Russia and the West. In his view, without this foundational unity, Peter’s Europeanization efforts would not have yielded the positive outcomes that were evident in the flourishing Russian culture during the imperial period. Despite the asynchronous development of Russia and Europe, along with their profound differences in historical experience, he argued that a cultural dialogue was necessary for both cultural worlds. Fedotov did not doubt the justification for Peter’s reforms as a condition for Russia’s progressive development in modern times. However, he also emphasized that these reforms simultaneously led to cultural dualism within the country. Elites, and later the intelligentsia, while assimilating European culture, became disconnected from national culture and lost touch with the common people. This cultural gap, compounded by the strengthening of serfdom in the country, resulted in deep societal deformities and mutual alienation between educated classes and the majority of the populace -a divide that remained unbridged until the 1917 revolution. Fedotov identified this alienation as a root cause of cultural destructiveness. He believed that only a revival and return to national spiritual traditions, alongside preserving the long-term positive results of Peter’s reforms, could ensure Russia’s progressive development. In conclusion, the paper highlights the heuristic value and relevance of Fedotov’s historical and religious constructs for contemporary historical knowledge The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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