Models of civilizational development in the contexts of universal discourse

Composition of the project, thematic structure, frame of categories

Abstract

The topic “Russian Civilizational Development Project” is considered as a comprehen­sive and long-term research program. The formation of new models should be preceded by an analysis of the already established general discourse about civilization in all the di­versity of its main subjects and perspectives, methodological approaches and languages of description. To cover the whole in its at least approximate completeness allows the method of “contour mapping”. Long-focus optics for the first time gives an idea of the boundaries and general structure of an object. This allows to choose own perspectives in the project consciously, omitting the rest “sightedly”, not due to ignorance or blind iner­tia. The method allows to cope with a sharply expressed polysemy, including the main categories of the topic: “civilization”, “project”, “Russian”… Related subjects are con­nected: identity, the conflict of civilization and culture, “challenge and response”, the civ­ilizational choice of Russia, postcolonial ethos, attitude to project action in a postmodern situation. The factors of existence, decline and death of historical and modern civiliza­tions (“civilizational eschatology”) are emphasized. Commodity models and derivative resource societies are especially noted. The unique importance of philosophy for under­standing the full depth of the problem of “changing the vector of development”, including “from raw materials to innovative ones”, is shown. Technocratic illusions make it diffi­cult to understand that directives, operational administration, technology and finance transfer are not enough to solve such truly civilizational, historical tasks. The necessity of changes in the economy, institutional environment, politics and psychoideology associ­ated with the age-old archetypes and inertia of consciousness is shown.