Abstract
The article deals with the paradox of the Russian social thought and literature, including the ambiguity of the historical images of Russian westernizers and slavophiles. The travel genre focused on the contrast between us and them. Two outstading Russian pieces of this genre (published almost simultaneously) contributed to the polemics of westernizers and slavophiles reflecting the inconsistencies of their positions. “Letters on Spain” by V.P. Botkin follows the idea, similar to slavophiles’, of the need to preserve the national identity under the conditions of modern (mid 19th century) globalization affecting the suburbs of the European world. The surprising unanimity shown by westernizers and slavophiles (essentialists) in their assessment of Monk Parfeny’s “Narrative of Travels.” gives us the opportunity to a have a new look at the essence of their debates regarding the future development of Russia and Russian literature (religious and national-historical aspects).
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