01: Aleksandr Dugin has made a name for himself in Russian political and intellectual circles for his radical anti-Americanism and a unique kind of religious nationalism.
Dugin’s recent rise from being an obscure intellectual to a key government advisor took place alongside Vladimir Putin’s ascent to power. Dugin, a dissident since his youth, was heavily influenced by the religious philosophy of Traditionalism, which teaches that there is an esoteric and mystical inner core that unites the world’s religions. After flirtations with the occult and the European “new right” (calling for a revival of paganism to replace Christianity), Dugin now calls for the restoration of Russia’s medieval social hierarchy, with an aristocratic ruling class under religious patronage.
“Unlike Catholicism and Protestantism, Dugin claims, Eastern Orthodox Christianity preserved its esoteric character and its ties with divine tradition.” Recently appointed head of the Center for Conservative Studies at Moscow State University, Dugin is also a leader and architect of the Eurasian movement, which seeks to bring Russia, Asia and Europe (as well as the Middle East and particularly Iran) into an alliance against the U.S. and other pro-Western societies.
With Russia under Putinism increasingly embracing the Eurasian vision (attacking Western allies and sympathizers), Dugin’s religious nationalism is likely to gain more influence.
(Source: Azure, Winter)