M.N. Katkov in the Russian imperial discourse second half XIX centuries

Nation in the view Katkov was not ethnic, but above all, a political category. Russian nation was to remain the only nation of the empire, but it continued to be composed of many ethnic elements. In this Katkov not distinguish the concept of "nation" and "nationality". Russian nation for Katkov - all subjects of the Russian state, regardless of their ethnic and religious identity. Russian people is dominated numerically and was cohesive unity of language, faith and a common historical activities. In addition, he was the center of the largest Slavic tribal community, which increased its consolidating role. Thus, the dominance of the Russian ethnic element was absolute and the Russian national character of the state historically conditioned. Rinks in Russia denied that any objective conditions for political self-determination of a member of a people. Rinks offered to make imperial principle fundamental to Russian nationalism. The government provided the political unity of the vast space of the Russian Empire. But this, according to publicist only created the primary basis of consolidation. It was necessary to create a rule - the Russian people imperial identity. The predominance of imperial identity over ethnic ought to start with the development of its in the Russian people, which was perceived as a national space of the entire territory of the Russian Empire, and not only their historical or ethnic lands. The result was to be no formation of a sense of superiority over other peoples, but rather the responsibility for the whole empire. Equal and other nations should come to dominate feeling "Russian", that is, the subjects of the Russian state, while maintaining their ethnic attachment. So, Katkov attempted to formulate the principles of imperial identity, based on the perception of the Russian nation, as a political entity set nationalities preserves ethnic identity. However, the political unity of the multinational state, was combined with ethnic and religious support to the Russian nationality. Dominate the Orthodox faith does not exclude the presence of other faiths. Official language was the language of the nation prevailed, but remained on the linguistic diversity of cultural and community level. This format of national relations required to reach a certain compromise between the Russian nationality, which remained the largest ethnic group and other ethnic groups. The basic principle is the recognition of the absolute priority of the state as the sole subject of national policy. All nationalities are becoming very object of his activity and gained a certain amount of rights, they are installed.

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