Nashism
Encyclopedia
Nashism and Nashists are post-Soviet Russian political neologisms derived from the word "наши" ("ours"). The word is used to refer to various forms of worldview based on the primacy of "ours" (i.e., of the ingroup
) over the "outsiders". Various Russian journalist
s, politician
s and politologists put different meanings into this word, as described below. The words "nashists" and "nashism" have also been used in reference to Nashi (youth movement), a Russiаn political movement with the word "Ours" in its title.
, the anchor of the Russian TV program 600 Seconds
. In January 1991 Nevzorov produced a documentary
and a controversial series of TV reports from Vilnius
titled Ours (Nashi), about the actions of the Soviet spetsnaz
during the January Events
, when the Soviet military forces attempted to crush the declared independence of the Lithuania
, in which Nevzorov was markedly sympathetic to Soviet actions. . As a freelance journalist Jules Evans wrote, reporting from the Soviet Union:
In November 1991 Nevzorov established the People's Liberation Movement "Nashi
", which he defined as "a united front of resistance to the anti-national politics of the current administration of Russia and other Union Republics of the former USSR". Its badge contained the contour of the USSR with the words "НАШИ" (ours) within. Of prominent participants in the movement was Viktor Alksnis
. Nevzorov's "Nashi" was short-lived. The naturally coined word "Nashists" in reference to the supporters of the "Nashi" movement immediately invoked the rhyme with the word "fascists", as a hint to the imperial position of the movement in support of the indivisibility of the Soviet Union, in particular, their justification of the use of military force to this end.
. A popular anti-Nashi slogan is "Nashism Shall Not Pass!" ("Нашизм не пройдет!"), from the World War II
motto "Fascism Shall Not Pass!" (which in its turn was an expanded translation of the "¡No pasarán!" ("They shall not pass
") from the times of the Spanish Civil War
).
in Russia as power in hands of power structures
(recently dubbed as "Chekism
"), whose ideology he defines by the word "nashism" ("ours-ism") in its most general sense: preferential treatment of "ours". In an article initially printed in Kommersant
and then reprinted several times in the West, he writes:
Ingroup
In sociology and social psychology, ingroups and outgroups are social groups to which an individual feels as though he or she belongs as a member, or to which they feel contempt, opposition, or a desire to compete. People tend to hold positive attitudes towards members of their own groups, a...
) over the "outsiders". Various Russian journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s and politologists put different meanings into this word, as described below. The words "nashists" and "nashism" have also been used in reference to Nashi (youth movement), a Russiаn political movement with the word "Ours" in its title.
Nevzorov's "Nashi"
The word was first coined by Alexander NevzorovAlexander Nevzorov
Alexander Glebovich Nevzorov is a former Russian and Soviet TV journalist, a film director and a former member of the Russian parliament. He is the founder of the horsemanship school, Nevzorov Haute Ecole.- Biography :...
, the anchor of the Russian TV program 600 Seconds
600 Seconds
600 Seconds was an immensely popular TV news program that aired in the Soviet Union and briefly in the post-Soviet Russia. It was a nightly broadcast from Leningrad TV with anchor Alexander Nevzorov....
. In January 1991 Nevzorov produced a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
and a controversial series of TV reports from Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
titled Ours (Nashi), about the actions of the Soviet spetsnaz
Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
during the January Events
January Events
The January Events took place in Lithuania between January 11 and 13, 1991 in the aftermath of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. As a result of Soviet military actions, 14 civilians were killed and more than 1000 injured...
, when the Soviet military forces attempted to crush the declared independence of the Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, in which Nevzorov was markedly sympathetic to Soviet actions. . As a freelance journalist Jules Evans wrote, reporting from the Soviet Union:
"the journalist Aleksander Nevzorov appeared on TV, standing in front of the demonstrators in Lithuania holding a KalashnikovAK-47The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
. To the music of Richard WagnerRichard WagnerWilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
(a German), Nevzorov declared the birth of a new Idea – ‘Nashi’. “Nashi is a circle of people – let it be enormous, colossal, multimillions – to whom one is related by common language, blood, and motherland.”
In November 1991 Nevzorov established the People's Liberation Movement "Nashi
Nashi (1991)
Nashi was a political movement initiated by well-known Russian journalist Alexander Nevzorov. The movement has been described as "statist-chauvinist"....
", which he defined as "a united front of resistance to the anti-national politics of the current administration of Russia and other Union Republics of the former USSR". Its badge contained the contour of the USSR with the words "НАШИ" (ours) within. Of prominent participants in the movement was Viktor Alksnis
Viktor Alksnis
Viktor Alksnis is an ethnic Latvian Russian politician and former Soviet Air Force colonel. He is the chairman of Russian Center of Free Technologies, an organization intended to promote Free Software and open standards in Russia...
. Nevzorov's "Nashi" was short-lived. The naturally coined word "Nashists" in reference to the supporters of the "Nashi" movement immediately invoked the rhyme with the word "fascists", as a hint to the imperial position of the movement in support of the indivisibility of the Soviet Union, in particular, their justification of the use of military force to this end.
Youth Movement "Nashi"
The pun "nashism/fascism" is often used by the political opponents of "Nashi". In particular, it was liberally used after the anti-Estonian manifestations of "Nashi" in relation to the events around the Bronze Soldier of TallinnBronze Soldier of Tallinn
The Bronze Soldier is the informal name of a controversial Soviet World War II war memorial in Tallinn, Estonia, built at the site of several war graves, which were relocated to the nearby Tallinn Military Cemetery in 2007...
. A popular anti-Nashi slogan is "Nashism Shall Not Pass!" ("Нашизм не пройдет!"), from the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
motto "Fascism Shall Not Pass!" (which in its turn was an expanded translation of the "¡No pasarán!" ("They shall not pass
They shall not pass
"They shall not pass" is a slogan used to express determination to defend a position against an enemy.It was most famously used during the Battle of Verdun in World War I by French General Robert Nivelle...
") from the times of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
).
Corporatism
Andrei Illarionov describes the emerging corporatismCorporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
in Russia as power in hands of power structures
Silovik
Silovik is a Russian word for politicians from the security or military services, often the officers of the former KGB, the FSB, the Federal Narcotics Control Service and military or other security services who came into power...
(recently dubbed as "Chekism
Chekism
Chekism is a term used by some historians and political scientists to emphasize the omnipotence and omnipresence of secret political police in the Soviet Union and contemporary Russia...
"), whose ideology he defines by the word "nashism" ("ours-ism") in its most general sense: preferential treatment of "ours". In an article initially printed in Kommersant
Kommersant
Kommersant is a commerce-oriented newspaper published in Russia. , the circulation was 131,000.- History :The newspaper was initially published in 1909, and it was closed down following the Bolshevik seizure of power and the introduction of censorship in 1917.In 1989, with the onset of press...
and then reprinted several times in the West, he writes:
"Ours-ism" does not know national or ethnic boundaries. The former chancellor of a foreign country [(Gerhard SchröderGerhard SchröderGerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder is a German politician, and was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , he led a coalition government of the SPD and the Greens. Before becoming a full-time politician, he was a lawyer, and before becoming Chancellor...
)] is made a member of the corporation and becomes "our man in Europe." Meanwhile, a Russian businessman [(Mikhail KhodorkovskyMikhail KhodorkovskyMikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky is a Russian prisoner, considered by some - such as Amnesty International - to have been imprisoned for political reasons, jailed until 2016 and a former Russian oligarch and businessman...
)] who created a company that brought billions into the national treasury turns out to be an "other" and is exiled to the depths of Siberia.