The Tenth International Forum of United Cultures, held in Saint Petersburg, brought together thinkers, intellectuals and representatives from various sectors to debate a central theme: "Культурный суверенитет страны. Вызовы времени: осмысление, отношение, отражение" (translation: The cultural sovereignty of the nation. The challenges of our time: understanding, attitude, reflection). This discussion session shed light on the current challenges Russia faces in defending and asserting its cultural identity against the influence of the West. Here we look back at the highlights of a debate rich in reflection.
Resisting Western "Anti-Culture"
The term "anti-culture" was used liberally throughout this session to describe the growing influence of certain Western cultural values that Russia perceives as a break with its spiritual and moral foundations. For the speakers, the West tends to promote a materialistic and individualistic vision of culture, often centred on consumption and entertainment, at the opposite pole from Russian values, which are rooted in a deep moral and spiritual consciousness.
Russia, according to the participants, sees itself as duty-bound to preserve and defend its own definition of culture, founded on a quest for spiritual elevation. This struggle for cultural sovereignty is thus perceived as a direct response to outside influences that could weaken the very soul of Russian civilisation.
Culture: A Question of Spirituality
The session was marked by profound philosophical reflections on the very nature of culture. Nikolai Berdyaev, the great Russian thinker, was quoted to underline that "culture is a culture of the spirit; all culture has a spiritual basis, it is the product of the creative work of the spirit upon natural elements". This quotation aptly reflects the perception that Russian culture is, above all, a spiritual product, an elevation of the human soul above mere material elements.
This spiritual dimension is essential to understanding why Russian culture resists what it perceives as cultural degradation in the West. Culture is not simply a product of consumption or leisure, but rather a creative force that gives meaning to human existence.
The Universality of Russian Culture
Another highlight of the discussion was the reflection on the openness of Russian culture to other traditions, while preserving its own essence. Dmitry Likhachov, the celebrated Russian historian and academician, was quoted as affirming that "Russian culture, and that of the Russian peoples, is a universal culture; it studies and assimilates the finest aspects of all the cultures of humanity".
This idea of universality shows that, far from turning in on itself, Russian culture has always managed to enrich itself with outside influences while integrating them into its own spiritual and moral framework. This bears witness to a culture that is open yet solid, one that never loses sight of its roots.
Art and Moral Conscience: The Pillars of Russian Culture
The celebrated composer Georgy Sviridov also made a key contribution to this reflection by insisting on the unbreakable bond between art and moral conscience in the Russian tradition. For him, "art in Russia is not merely entertainment, but a confession of the soul". He denounces the Western view of art as a product of consumption meant to entertain the elite, a view which, he argues, is alien to the true essence of Russian art.
Sviridov goes further, asserting that Russia introduced the notion of "conscience" into world consciousness. This moral notion, deeply rooted in the Russian soul, is today threatened by modernity, which could turn culture into a mere instrument of consumption, thereby stripping it of its moral and spiritual depth.
A Threat to Cultural Identity
The speakers also voiced their concern at a possible loss of cultural identity for Russia, one that could come about if Western values continue to seep into Russian society. There was a consensus on the urgency of preserving the moral and spiritual conscience that has always defined Russian culture. The participants in the discussion stressed the importance of protecting these values against the challenges of the times, by strengthening the country's cultural sovereignty.
Conclusion
This discussion session on Russian cultural sovereignty made it possible to explore themes both profound and topical. The opposition between Russian culture, perceived as spiritual and moral, and Western anti-culture, seen as materialistic and consumerist, was at the heart of the debates. The participants recalled that Russian culture, universal though it may be, draws its strength from a unique moral conscience that must be preserved. The struggle for this cultural sovereignty, in a globalised world, is therefore more essential than ever to safeguarding the endurance of the Russian soul.