Radical nationalism in Russia

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 ideologicalsauce 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 organisationalterms 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 [ [http://www.nupi.no/cgi-win/Russland/krono.exe?1081 Chronology of events - NUPI ] ] . 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.

Parties, organizations, movements

*Black Hundred
*Eurasianism
*Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
*Mladorossi
*National-Bolshevik Party
*Neo-Nazism in Russia
*Pamyat
*People's National Party (Russia)
*Russian National Socialist Party
*Russian National Union
*Russian National Unity
*Union of Associations of Russian Compatriots in Estonia

ee also

*Anti-anarchism
*Anti-national sentiment in Russia
*Racism in modern Russia

References

External links

* [http://sova-center.ru/194F418/ Nationalism and xenophobia in Russia] , SOVA Center, an independent authority that produces reports and daily updates on the rise of nationalism and xenophobia in the Russian Federation
* [http://www.csis.org/ruseura/ponars/policymemos/pm_0193.pdf Western Perceptions of Russian Nationalism] ( [http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_pubs/task,view/id,2313/type,1/ or this link] )
* [http://www.csis.org/ruseura/ponars/policymemos/pm_0151.pdf Russian Nationalism and Putin's Russia] ( [http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_pubs/task,view/id,2356/type,1/ or this link] )
* [http://www.yabloko.ru/Union/XIICongress/naci.html On menace of nationalism in Russia. "Yabloko" Party view (in Russian)]
* [http://www.alternativy.ru/magazine/htm/96_1/kelle.htm Vladislav Kelle. Nationalism and the future of Russia (in Russian)]
* [http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir060905_1_n.shtml Racial violence escalates in Russia] Jane's Intelligence Review, 5 September 2006
* [http://nso-korpus.info/ National Socialist Society] Radical national socialist organization
* [http://www.nordrus.org/ Nordrus] - an organization of "Russian radical nationalists" (in Russian)
*en icon [http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/7006-15.cfm "VELVET" FASCISM. Ultra-nationalist ideas are popular among the literary mainstream and political saloons"] ] by [Andrey Kolesnikov]
*en icon [http://www.etext.org/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit/Antifa/russia.fascism.overview Russian Fascism and Russian Fascists" by Kirill Buketov]
*en icon [http://xeno.sova-center.ru/6BA2468/6BB4208/93A572E?print=on "Radical nationalism in Russia and efforts to counteract it in 2006"]

Bibliography

* Stephen D. Shenfield. Russian Fascism: Traditions, Tendencies, Movements, 2001 ISBN 0765606348 or ISBN 978-0765606341
*, 2002
* [http://www.library.cjes.ru/online/?a=con&b_id=677 Радикальный национализм в России: проявления и противодействие] Центр экстремальной журналистики.
* cite journal
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