The Image of Spain in Russia at the Second Half of the 1870s – 1880s: the Peculiarities of the Perception of the Country`s Socio-Political Sphere

Abstract

The article deals with the representations of the Russian educated society of the second half of the 1870s–1880s of socio-political development of Spain. The deconstruction of Russia`s perception of Spain in the 19th century is topical as the part of the research field of interaction and interference between Russia and Europe as one of the main themes for Russian thought. It is notable that Russia and Spain both located far from the geographic center of Europe and having to deal with fringe movements have a lot in common, that causes keen interest of Russian authors to the Spanish realities. The image of the Other, presented in their works, reflects significant features of the Russian society of those times, and the study of the issue can have a positive feedback of drawing on Spainish experience. The article fits within the framework of such a research direction as imagology, but appeals to the wider problems of intellectual history in general. The characteristics of Spanish realities given by Russian authors are represented within the context of the genesis of Russian thought that had always been in a dialogue with Europe. The representations of Spain are analyzed on the base of the materials of five travelogues published in the 1880s when both countries were going through the period of modernization. The article defines the peculiarities of the individual perception of the socio-political and economic spheres of Spain`s life by particular authors as well as general views on this country in Russia, for example an increased interest to the phenomenon of the Spanish Inquizition. The article reveals the changes in the perception of Spain by Russian authors in the 1880s as well as its main factors. Russian educated society`s representations of Spain from the point of view of the development of the state during this time period became less integral and were reinforced and supplemented with the problem of regionalism. Catalonia, the very symbol of regional independence movement, became another center in the country`s image along with the areas such as Castilla and Andalusia that were traditionally familiar to the Russian readers in terms of culture.