Non-Russian Slavs in the programme work “Byzantinism & Slavdom” by Konstantin Leontiev

Abstract

The article examines the programme work “Byzantinism & Slavdom” (1831–1891) by Konstantin Leontiev in the context of his other works that touch on the topic of non-Russian Slavs and Slavic unity. The thinker's view of the Slavic world is reflected in the context of the variety of problems and issues united by the Slavic theme. The author of the article concludes that what played a key role in Konstantin Leontiev's perception of the Slavs was the extent of his commitment to “Byzantinism” as an important preservatory capable of preventing Russia and other Orthodox Slavs from losing their own spiritual and national identity. Much attention was paid to the Bulgarians in connection with the Byzantine-Bulgarian church strife by Konstantin Leontiev, who unwittingly projected his critical attitude towards them onto other southern Slavs just as well, if not on the Slavs as a whole; that was characteristic of him. Therefore, the philosopher's general conclusions about Slavic unity were rather pessimistic; however his individual statements and observations about certain phenomena in Slavic life, notably the Serbian ones, were quite accurate, though they did not affect his conception of Russia's relationship to the other Slavs. The general sense of this conception was the need to maintain a “skillful affection at a respectful distance”. The evolution of the perception of the Slavic unity theme by Russian thinkers, writers and publicists in the 19th century is briefly traced in the article.