Radical nationalism in Russia

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Members of the National-Bolshevik Party
Members of the National-Bolshevik Party

Radical nationalism in Russia refers to far-right extremist nationalist movements and organizations. Of note, the term "nationalist" in Russia often refers to radical nationalism. however, it is often mixed up with fascism in Russia. While this terminology does not exactly match the formal definitions of fascism, the common denominator is chauvinism. In all other respects the positions vary over a wide spectrum. Some movements hold a political position that the state must be an instrument of nationalism (such as National-Bolshevik Party, headed by Eduard Limonov), while others (for example, Russian National Unity) resolve to vigilante tactics against the perceived "enemies or Russia" without going into politics.

Historically, the first prototype of such groups started with the Black Hundreds, then was quickly extinguished by the Soviet regime's anti-nationalistic policies. A new surge of this kind of activism was a byproduct of perestroika and glasnost, including neo-Soviet groups that called for a return of Soviet communism, and white supremacist movements heavily influenced by European and American groups. Several groups such as Pamyat made an effort to combine pre-revolutionary Russian traditionalism with neo-fascism, although they are not as predominant as the aforementioned pro-Soviet and white supremacist groups.

Radical nationalism (to the extent of fascism) in Russia is often connected with Stalinism:

Special sympathies for the RNE (i.e. Russian National Unity) are shown by the Stalinists, who remain possessed by a sadomasochistic dream of iron fists and labour camps, and who are not much troubled by the ideological sauce with which these delights are served up. It is no accident that at demonstrations today, portraits of Stalin are to be seen alongside swastika flags. Oppositionists who in organisational terms are quite impotent look with great respect on the tightly marshalled nazi ranks.

(Russian Fascism and Russian Fascists by Kirill Buketov)

In 1997, the Moscow Anti-Fascist Center estimated there were 40 (nationalist) extremist groups operating in Russia[1]. The same source reported 35 extremist newspapers, the largest among these being Zavtra.

In addition to small extremist groups, some mainstream political parties like Zhirinovsky's Liberal Democratic Party and the Rodina bloc also engage in campaign of radical nationalism or xenophobia. On November 6, 2005, Rodina was barred from taking part in the December elections to the Moscow Duma following a complaint that its advertising campaign incited racial hatred. The advertisement in question showed dark-skinned Caucasian immigrants tossing watermelon rinds to the ground and ended with the slogan, "let's clear our city of trash". It garnered much controversy and opinion polls predicted that Rodina would come second with close to 25% in the December vote. Rogozin appealed the decision, but the ban was upheld on December 1, 2005.

Liberal political parties and human rights groups struggle to oppose these developments.


Contents

[edit] Parties, organizations, movements

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chronology of events - NUPI

[edit] External links

[edit] Bibliography

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