Speaker: Professor Alexander Kamenskii; Chair: Professor Janet Hartley
Thursday, 2 February 2012, 6.30 to 8.00pm, Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building
In the course of the eighteenth century, Russia became an active participant in European diplomatic relations. But to what extent was Russia part of Europe? And is it possible to study Europe without including Russia?
This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For any queries email ideas.events@lse.ac.uk| or call 020 7849 4612.
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Summary
By Alexander Shea
Described as "the new face of Russian history" in the post-Soviet era, Professor Alexander Kamenskii offered his reflections on Russia's 'long' eighteenth century. In particular, Kamenskii discussed the utility of viewing this period through the prism of Russia as being distinct from Europe. This was a significant lecture therefore in that it responded to two key debates in the academic literature on Russia during this period. First, the possibility that Russia was presented throughout the eighteenth century with "windows of opportunity" in which to assimilate itself to its European counterparts- or as Kamenskii suggests, to abandon its unique path of history and join Europe. And second, of a more fundamental nature, the validity of the Russia vs. Europe paradigm when discussing Russia's development. The theme of Russia's relationship with Europe therefore formed the leitmotif of Kamenskii's lecture.
Kamenskii's response to this academic debate was a measured one. From the outset, he highlighted what he called the 'paradox' of the Russia vs. Europe dichotomy. Namely, that by using this conceptual framework, it becomes very easy to overlook the similarities and interactions between Russia and European polities in the eighteenth century. This measured argument was added to by his use of a constructivist methodology. He argued that to understand the Russia vs. Europe relationship, we must not think of either as territorial units but rather, using Benedict Anderson's thesis, as 'imagined communities' between which the political boundaries were constantly shifting in the eighteenth century. For Kamenskii therefore, due to the 'imagined' nature of these boundaries between Europe and Russia, the European-Russian relationship was one of continual evolution in the eighteenth century. Taking this 'imagined community' thesis one step further, Kamenskii argued that asking whether Russia was part of Europe or Asia during this period is an "irrelevant question". Rather, Russia's identity was in constant flux- it itself was an 'imagined community', distinct from its European and Asiatic counterparts
Lastly, Kamenskii discussed his work at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. Returning to this leitmotif of Russia vs. Europe, he stressed how HSE was being innovative in putting a halt to the tendency in Russian universities to study Russian history separately from European history. He explained how HSE is the first university to produce a curriculum in which the histories of Europe and Russia are intertwined. This perhaps pointed to the larger conclusion of his lecture, that while Russia and Europe were indeed separate and distinct entities in the eighteenth century, we must see their paths as having been intertwined.
Speaker
Professor Alexander Kamenskii is dean of the Faculty of History and chief research fellow of the Poletaev Institute for Theoretical and Historical Studies in the Humanities at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow.
Chair
Professor Janet Hartley is a Professor of International History and Pro Director of teaching and learning at LSE
Location
Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building. London School of Economics. Map|.