How did Slavophiles describe Russia's relationship with Western Europe?

Slavophiles viewed Western Europe as morally bankrupt, characterizing its political and economic institutions—such as capitalism and constitutional government—as products of a deficient society defined by rationalism, materialism, and individualism.1

In contrast to the Western model, which they believed had been corrupted by Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, Slavophiles argued that Russia should follow a unique path rooted in its own history and the Russian Orthodox faith. They maintained that the Russian people were united by a "Christian community," exemplified by the peasant commune, which fostered natural and harmonious human relationships.1

Furthermore, Slavophiles believed that Russia had a moral duty to eventually revitalize the West by reintroducing these spiritual values. They were highly critical of Peter I, arguing that his efforts to modernize Russia by imitating Western patterns had corrupted the nation, undermined spiritual authority, and created an artificial divide between the nobility and the peasantry.1