The Russian Peasantry in the national civilizational process

Abstract

The article deals with the interaction of the agrarian-peasant component of Russian his­tory and the national civilizational dynamics. The peasantry possesses the logic of its bor­derline natural and social existence. The article studies the possibilities and limits of the peasantry to overcome the actual framework of the “peasant civilization”, its nor­mativity and self-sufficiency and to join a civilization of a different level and type. The main attention is paid to the period from the end of the XIXth to the end of the XXth century. This period was twice distinguished by the change of types of the civilizational movement, as well as the urbanization of the country. Social trends were characterized by active de-peasantization. The correlation of traditions and innovations in the rural envi­ronment is revealed. The changes in the peasantry and the ways of its communication with the authorities and the city are studied.