On the Russian Economy. From The Late Slavophiles to the Neo-Slavophiles

Aim. To demonstrate the enduring significance of the economic teachings of the Slavophiles, which opposes the dominant Western political economy as the theoretical basis of modern consumer society depriving human existence in general meaning not corresponding to development of Russia as a unique civilization.

Methodology. The views of proponents of the liberal and conservative schools of Russian social philosophical thought on the principles of the country’s economic development during the transitional periods at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries are compared.

Results. It is proved that during the contradictory development of “Russian capitalism”, pursued by liberal reformers following Western models and leading to the enslavement and ruin of the country by Western capital, an alternative school of philosophical and economic thought emerged, uniting outstanding academic theorists and professional practitioners, Orthodox patriots, and statists. They specified and proposed a program for a systemic change in the country’s course, including financial and economic reforms coupled with the cleansing of the public administration sphere from corrupt bureaucracy and the strengthening of communal (popular) principles in the zemstvos and the Orthodox Church. These measures were intended to lead to state planning for the harmonious development of the country’s productive forces, unlocking labor potential, increasing public well-being, and strengthening the country’s sovereignty, avoiding revolutionary upheaval. Some of their ideas were implemented during the Soviet era and were particularly in demand in the post-Soviet era, amid the struggle for a national development model.

Research implications consist in the need to establish sovereignty and mobilize the social sciences and education to understand the profound global shift taking place and to choose the right solutions based on the principles of the Slavophile philosophical tradition, which views economics as a field for individuals engaged in meaningful economic activity in accordance with Christian values.

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