Nihilist movement
Encyclopedia
The Nihilist movement was a Russia
n movement in the 1860s which rejected all authorities. It is derived from the Latin word "nihil", which means "nothing". After the assassination of Tsar Alexander II
in 1881, the Nihilists were known throughout Europe as proponents of the use of violence in order to bring about political change.
class. Although the term Nihilist was first used by the German theologian Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
, its widespread usage began with the 1862 novel Fathers and Sons
by the Russian author Ivan Turgenev
. The main character of the novel, Eugene Bazarov, who describes himself as a Nihilist, wants to educate the people. This "go to the people be the people" campaign reached its height in the 1870s, during which underground groups such as Circle of Tchaikovsky
, People's Will and Land and Liberty
were formed. This became known as the Narodnik
movement, whose members believed that the newly-freed serfs were merely being sold into wage slavery in the onset of the industrial revolution, and that the middle and upper classes had effectively replaced landowners. The Russian State attempted to suppress them. In actions described by the Nihilists as propaganda of the deed
many government officials were assassinated. In 1881 Alexander II
was killed on the very day he had approved a proposal to call a representative assembly to consider new reforms.
(1682–1725), many in the Russian elite were fascinated by the technological, artistic, and intellectual achievements of Western Europe:
"During the 1820s and 1830s Russian thought was influenced powerfully by several waves of German Romantic idealism and then the philosophy of Hegel, both of which raised...the concept of distinct national identity and of “inevitable” historical progress…" (Wasiolek, 3)
After the Crimean War
(1853–1856) however, the Russian Nihilists rejected the German-influenced liberals of the 1830–40s generation, decrying previous reforms as ineffective. Both sets of reformers were opposed by the conservative Slavophiles, who sought to defend established traditions and values. Fyodor Dostoevsky's political novel Demons (1872) dramatically illustrates the conflict between these three groups.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n movement in the 1860s which rejected all authorities. It is derived from the Latin word "nihil", which means "nothing". After the assassination of Tsar Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
in 1881, the Nihilists were known throughout Europe as proponents of the use of violence in order to bring about political change.
History
The Nihilists were angered by the abusive nature of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Czarist Monarchy, and the domination of the economy by the BoyarBoyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
class. Although the term Nihilist was first used by the German theologian Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi was an influential German philosopher, literary figure, socialite and the younger brother of poet Johann Georg Jacobi...
, its widespread usage began with the 1862 novel Fathers and Sons
Fathers and Sons
Fathers and Sons is an 1862 novel by Ivan Turgenev, his best known work. The title of this work in Russian is Отцы и дети , which literally means "Fathers and Children"; the work is often translated to Fathers and Sons in English for reasons of euphony.- Historical context and notes :The fathers...
by the Russian author Ivan Turgenev
Ivan Turgenev
Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was a Russian novelist, short story writer, and playwright. His first major publication, a short story collection entitled A Sportsman's Sketches, is a milestone of Russian Realism, and his novel Fathers and Sons is regarded as one of the major works of 19th-century...
. The main character of the novel, Eugene Bazarov, who describes himself as a Nihilist, wants to educate the people. This "go to the people be the people" campaign reached its height in the 1870s, during which underground groups such as Circle of Tchaikovsky
Circle of Tchaikovsky
The Circle of Tchaikovsky, also known as Tchaikovtsy, Chaikovtsy, or the Grand Propaganda Society was a Russian literary society for self-education and a revolutionary organization of the Narodniks in the early 1870s.- Background and origin :The intelligentsia of mid-nineteenth century Tsarist...
, People's Will and Land and Liberty
Land and Liberty (Russia)
Land and Liberty was a Russian clandestine revolutionary organization of Narodniki in the 1870s...
were formed. This became known as the Narodnik
Narodnik
Narodniks was the name for Russian socially conscious members of the middle class in the 1860s and 1870s. Their ideas and actions were known as Narodnichestvo which can be translated as "Peopleism", though is more commonly rendered "populism"...
movement, whose members believed that the newly-freed serfs were merely being sold into wage slavery in the onset of the industrial revolution, and that the middle and upper classes had effectively replaced landowners. The Russian State attempted to suppress them. In actions described by the Nihilists as propaganda of the deed
Propaganda of the deed
Propaganda of the deed is a concept that refers to specific political actions meant to be exemplary to others...
many government officials were assassinated. In 1881 Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
was killed on the very day he had approved a proposal to call a representative assembly to consider new reforms.
Historical context
At least as early as the reign of Peter the GreatPeter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
(1682–1725), many in the Russian elite were fascinated by the technological, artistic, and intellectual achievements of Western Europe:
"During the 1820s and 1830s Russian thought was influenced powerfully by several waves of German Romantic idealism and then the philosophy of Hegel, both of which raised...the concept of distinct national identity and of “inevitable” historical progress…" (Wasiolek, 3)
After the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
(1853–1856) however, the Russian Nihilists rejected the German-influenced liberals of the 1830–40s generation, decrying previous reforms as ineffective. Both sets of reformers were opposed by the conservative Slavophiles, who sought to defend established traditions and values. Fyodor Dostoevsky's political novel Demons (1872) dramatically illustrates the conflict between these three groups.
See also
- CynicismCynicism (contemporary)Cynicism is an attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of other's apparent motives, or a general lack of faith or hope in the human race. It is a form of jaded negativity, and other times, realistic criticism or skepticism...
- NarodnikNarodnikNarodniks was the name for Russian socially conscious members of the middle class in the 1860s and 1870s. Their ideas and actions were known as Narodnichestvo which can be translated as "Peopleism", though is more commonly rendered "populism"...
- Nihilism in Russian History
- Nihilist FactionNihilist FactionThe Nihilist Faction was a Nihilist Anarchist organization in Greece, which claimed responsibility for a 28 May 1996 bombing of IBM offices in Athens. The attack caused extensive structural damage but no injuries....