№ 4 - 2004
Rabotyazhev N.V.
Phenomenon of “Right-Left” Coalition in Russia: National Salvation Front

Stating that in the last decade of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st, there have been several attempts made in Russia, of organizational unification of the right and the left who turned out to adhere to similar ideological assumptions and values, the author then has a try to clear up the reasons for mutual inclination of the “whites” and “reds”, to determine their ideological common ground. Analysis of the present situation is prefaced with a historical excursus demonstrating that communism is apt to acquire nationalistic characteristics, and nationalism (imperial and even ethnic) to show rapprochement with communism. According to the author’s conclusion, under our country’s conditions, it is not only belief in Russia’s Messianic mission that makes them related, but also negative attitude they have in common, towards Western liberal-bourgeois civilization, their state-priority orientation. It’s exactly the power first position (derzhavnichestvo), he holds, that served and goes on serving as the ideological basis which makes such alliances possible.