Of course, Russia could have its own special way — and as many philosophers have suggested — it might lie in a kind of synthesis between the West and the East. A mission to bring together two very different ways of being: one focused on rationalism and individualism, the other on spirit and community. But these days, after living in Istanbul, I feel that it’s actually Turkey that is better positioned for that vocation. It truly is a place where oriental culture and ways of seeing meet the European rational, egocentric desire to improve material existence. It’s like an opportunity to live well in a human-oriented modern society without paying the heavy price of total commercialisation and the obsession with building the perfect ego-environment. But… these are just speculations, and these days, I’m not sure if it’s going anywhere.
Anyway, throughout history Russia was hysterically oscillating between the Westernizers’ and Slavophiles’ way of thinking. It was particularly visible during the classical period – the golden age – from the palace coups to the long 19th century, when Russia’s elites often spoke better French then Russian. One day, Peter would cut off the beards of the russian boyars with an ax, the next day the Crown would proclaim the rule according to the good old times; another day, it was time to fervently abolish slavery and push the Great Reforms, immediately followed by “reaction” and the demolition of liberal institutions just freshly built.