How did nationalism shape Russian political thought in the 19th century?

In 19th-century Russia, nationalism shaped political thought through both state-sponsored ideology and independent intellectual movements.

Official Nationality

The imperial government under Nicholas I established the doctrine of Official Nationality in 1833. Created by Count Sergey Uvarov, this ideology rested on three pillars: Orthodoxy, autocracy, and nationality (narodnost). It posited that these elements were the fundamental factors distinguishing Russian society and protecting it from the perceived corrupting influences of Western Europe.12

Intellectual Movements

Nationalism also fueled the Slavophile movement, which argued that Russia should reject Western models of development in favor of its own unique history and character. Slavophiles idealized the Russian peasant commune and the Orthodox faith as the basis for a harmonious society.3

Conversely, Westernizers advocated for Russia to adopt Western political and economic institutions. While both groups were deeply Russian, their debate defined the 19th-century intellectual landscape. Later in the century, these ideas evolved into Pan-Slavism, a movement that sought to unite Slavic peoples under Russian leadership, often influencing imperial foreign policy in the Balkans.415