Panslavism is a special ideology that has been formed in different states, populated mainly by Slavic peoples. It is based on ideas about the need to build a national Slavic political association, which would be based on linguistic, ethnic and cultural community. This ideology originated and took shape in the late XVIII - early XIX centuries. On the eve of the 20th century, a neo-Orthodox movement was formed on the basis of these ideas in the world. They set themselves similar tasks, but at the same time put forward demands for equality between all, without exception, Slavic peoples, as well as liberation from Russian leadership.
The origins of ideology
Panslavism is an ideology that originated at about the same time as pan-Germanism. He also grew up on a sense of nationalism and the unity of internal ethnic groups at a time when Napoleon dominated Europe.
The ideas of Pan-Slavism today are classified as romantic nationalist movements. They activated the best representatives of the Slavic intelligentsia, as well as scholars who specialized in folklore, history and philology. Panslavism is a movement that organically developed along with the desire of the Slavs to gain absolute independence.
Among the common symbols of this movement, colors are primarily distinguished. It is white, blue and red. And also the anthem "Gay, Slavs".
Who stood at the origins
The founder of this ideology is considered the Croatian missionary Yuri Krizhanich. It is believed that he was the first to formulate the concept itself. According to Krizhanich, pan-Slavism is a movement capable of ensuring the unity of all Slavic peoples. He even attempted to create a single language for them that all around would understand. Popularity was brought to him by a treatise entitled Politics, which he wrote while in exile in Tobolsk. In it, he proclaimed that in the near future the Slavic peoples would throw off the foreign yoke, and that it would not take long to wait for a single Slavic state.
Panslavic ideas appeared in the Habsburg monarchy. Their carriers were Czechoslovak writers and participants in the national movement Pavel Joseph Shafarik and Adam Franz Kollar.
The movement was finally formed in 1815, when the war against Napoleon ended.
The origin of ideology
He formulated the theory of Pan-Slavism and the first to propose this term was Czech Jan Hercel. This happened in 1826. Similar views on politics and the processes taking place in society among the majority of Slavic peoples led to the appearance of ideas about unification, the creation of a certain cultural community.
An important role in this was played by the successes of the Russian army in the military confrontation with Turkey, as well as in the war with Napoleon. All this led to the formulation of ideas not only about the political, but also about the linguistic unification of peoples under the rule of Russia. Many believed that this could help the Slavic nations in confronting foreign power.
It is noteworthy that some after some time changed their views. For example, Karel Gavlicek-Borovsky and Ludovit Stur, and Palacki F. advocated the idea of preserving the Austrian Empire and creating within it a federation of Slavs, Hungarians and Austrians.
First exit
The goal that includes the concept of pan-Slavism was formulated by the First Slavic Congress, which was held in Prague in the summer of 1848. Its meetings were held in the Sofia Palace, where numerous public actions related to the 1848 revolutionary movement were carried out.
The initiators of the congress were Czechoslovak Slavists. The Russian empire was represented by an emigrant Mikhail Bakunin. In total, about three hundred delegates arrived at the congress. According to the national principle, the work of the congress was divided into three sections. These are Czechoslovak, Yugoslav and Polish-Ruthenian.
The chairman of the congress was Frantisek Palacki, a famous Czech public figure and historian. He was remembered for calling for cooperation with the Habsburg monarchy, believing that this political entity was most desirable for the defense of the Central European peoples.
The ideology of pan-Slavism
Two main positions were formulated at the congress. One of them, which was considered less revolutionary, implied the transformation of the Austrian Empire into a multinational federation, into which the Slavic peoples could enter on the basis of national autonomy. To implement this idea, a petition was even sent to the Austrian emperor.
Radically inclined members of the congress, including Bakunin, argued that it was necessary to create a separate Slavic federation that would live independently. It is worth noting that the Russian Empire caused a mixed reaction among the participants in the congress. Some believed that with its help it would be possible to liberate the Slavic peoples, others, among them were Polish deputies, were very skeptical about this proposal.
The development of ideology in Russia
Panslavism in Russia began to develop actively in the late 30s of the XIX century. One of the first Mikhail Pogodin formulated theses on the need to affirm the Slavic world with its inherent spiritual values and true faith - Orthodoxy.
In the Slavophil ideology, which played an important role in Russia, the thesis about the special mission of Russia among other Slavic peoples occupied a key place. The Slavophiles advocated the immediate liberation of the blood brothers from Austrian and Ottoman influence.
The first Russian Slavophiles included themselves Alexei Khomyakov, Konstantin Aksakov, Ivan Kireevsky. They spoke out in opposition to the Orthodox world, led by Russia, and Europe, which was mired in unbelief.
In 1849, Friedrich Engels in his article "Democratic Pan-Slavism" criticized the basic tenets of this ideology. Later, Lenin also condemned the Slavophiles.
It is noteworthy that at that time in Russia there was a movement of opponents of the Pan-Slavists, who called themselves Westerners. For example, Alexander Herzen and Peter Chaadaev belonged to them . They denied that Russia has a special mission and role among other Slavic peoples. Their positions significantly weakened after the defeat in the Crimean War and the Polish liberation uprising. All this led to the revitalization of Russian pan-Slavists, who organized the Slavic Congress in Moscow in 1867.
One of the supporters of this ideology for many years remained the sociologist and naturalist Nikolai Danilevsky. Panslavism of Danilevsky was based on a criticism of social civilization, as well as on the concept of a cultural-historical type, which was based on religion, culture, politics and socio-economic structure.
Fading ideas
Panslavism began to lose popularity after the Russo-Turkish war of 1878. This was due to the fact that most of the goals of ensuring the independence of the Slavic peoples by this time were fulfilled. For example, the revival of Slavic languages, folk culture, ensuring independence.
In addition, the main ideology was divided into several regional trends: Czechoslovakism, Illyrism, Austroslavism. After World War I and the revolution in Russia, the idea of pan-Slavism was realized on the example of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.
21st Century Revival
In this century, the ideas of Pan-Slavism are returning again. There was a strong opinion that the current political situation that developed in the Slavic world is characterized by the hostile policy of Western countries towards the Slavic peoples. This view is held by a number of politicians and leaders of the Slavic states, which is indirectly confirmed by the entry of individual countries into NATO, the EU, the WTO and other economic communities and military-political unions.
At the moment, it is believed that this policy is set to ensure that the EU and NATO actively oppose the Slavic world. This leads to the revival of this ideology. In the modern view, pan-Slavism ranges from fairly liberal ideas to open hostility expressed through hostility and indifference.
Most often these ideas are addressed in Russia, Belarus, Slovakia and Serbia.