Civilizational Development of Russia: Heritage, Potential, Prospects Edited by V. A. Chereshnev, V. N. Rastorguev

Abstract

The review of the collective monograph prepared by authors representing the Scientific Council under the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Expert Center of the World Russian People’s Cathedral gives an analysis of the interdisciplinary devel­opment of the problems of the Russian civilizational structure and dynamics, as well as their civilizational identity. The peculiarity of the civilizational and axiological ap­proaches in understanding the civilizational nature of Russia as a country-civilization is indicated.

An important point of the reviewed concept is the assertion that values are associated with the civilizational heritage of Russia, interpreted broadly. In fact, we are talking about a socio-natural ontology, a chronotope, a cultural code, a “linguistic universe”, an eco­nomic structure, and geostrategy.

However, a positive attitude to the heritage, which the authors of collective work write about, instead of the previously dominant utilitarian-neutral, suggests two important per­spectives: a) the “personal dimension of civilization”; b) the elimination of “borrowed meanings”. Such a step is generally associated with the ideological legacy of A. S. Pana­rina, and in particular, with the principle of the intrinsic value of Russian civilization.

Also noted is the fundamental nature of the concept of civilizational regeneration of Rus­sia as a country-civilization due to the projection of “smart politics”, addressed to all tem­porary modes of being. In addition, the authors propose to rethink the model of solidarity that has arisen and is developing in the framework of the “democratic discourse” and to reactivate the content of the concept of conciliarity, crystallized in the domestic philo­sophical and historical discourse. It is the “spirit of catholicity” that makes it possible to unite people and nations, to discover a living connection between generations.