Nacjonalizm w Rosji: uśpione zagrożenie?
Nationalism in Russia: a dormant threat?

Author(s): Katarzyna Jarzyńska
Subject(s): Nationalism Studies, Inter-Ethnic Relations
Published by: OSW Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia
Keywords: multi-ethnicity in Russia; rassism in Russia; xenophobia in Russia;
Summary/Abstract: Most Russians associate the term nationalism primarily with criminal ethnic background and riots involving radical nationalists. This is largely due to the message of the Russian media. Nationalist activity as dangerous for internal stability. Multi-ethnic Russia is subject to severe criticism and control by the Kremlin. The authorities are afraid that the rise of ethnic nationalisms among the peoples of Russia could lead to the escalation of conflicts based on nationality and even to the dissolution of the Russian Federation. Therefore, the Kremlin is trying to combat manifestations of xenophobia in Russia and impose its own vision of nationalism on society - so-called state nationalism, which is based on the multinational idea of Russia united by Russian culture and language. It is to become the foundamental Russian state identity. The actions of the authorities are positive consequences – the number of ethnic crimes in Russia has been declining for several years, and regular sociological research shows that support for radical nationalist slogans among Russians in the perspective of a few years does not increase. This does not mean, however, that the problems are ethnic in nature in Russia have been dissolved. We are dealing more and more with "hidden nationalism", the basis of which is a veiled aversion and the fear of Russians towards representatives of other nationalities resulting from dealing with strangers in everyday life. Social support for such views is difficult to measure in sociological research, but reveals itself violently in conflict situations.

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