Spiritual Heritage
Encyclopedia
The All-Russian Social-Political Movement “Spiritual Heritage”, also known as Spiritual Heritage, Spiritual Legacy or Dukhovnoye Naslediye (Russian: Всероссийское общественно-политическое движение "Духовное наследие") was a left-wing nationalist
party in Russia. Its orientation has been characterized as moderately “national-imperial
” (as opposed to ethnic nationalist) or as a “national-religious revision of communism”.
The movement was founded in 1995 by Alexey Podberyozkin, the president of the RAU Corporation and worked in symbiosis with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation
until autumn 1998: members of the Spiritual Heritage movements participated in the 1995 State Duma election within the CPRF list, and Gennady Zyuganov
on the other hand belonged to the leadership of the Spiritual Heritage (and according to some sources, was strongly influenced by Podberyozkin's political philosophy). The movement was one of the initiators and members of the pro-communist umbrella organization Popular-Patriotic Union of Russia (Народно-патриотический союз России), that gathered supporters of G. Zyuganov's presidential bid. The Spiritual Heritage movement eventually decided to participate independently in the 1999 State Duma election (Podberyozkin also considered running in the Fatherland list, for which reason he was expelled from the CPRF State Duma faction).
The ideology of the Spiritual Heritage movement can be characterized as statist
, supporting a resurrection of the traditionally strong Russian state and favouring for this reason the rallying of nationalist forces around the CPRF as the main vehicle for statist ideology.
Since 1998, close relations between the movement and the Communist Party started to wane; Alexey Podberyozkin ran independently at the Russian presidential election, 2000
and endorsed Vladimir Putin
in the second round. In 2003, members of the Spiritual Heritage founded the United Socialist Party of Russia
.
Left-wing nationalism
Left-wing nationalism describes a form of nationalism officially based upon equality, popular sovereignty, and national self-determination. It has its origins in the Jacobinism of the French Revolution. Left-wing nationalism typically espouses anti-imperialism...
party in Russia. Its orientation has been characterized as moderately “national-imperial
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
” (as opposed to ethnic nationalist) or as a “national-religious revision of communism”.
The movement was founded in 1995 by Alexey Podberyozkin, the president of the RAU Corporation and worked in symbiosis with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation
Communist Party of the Russian Federation
The Communist Party of the Russian Federation is a Russian political party. It is the second major political party in the Russian Federation.-History:...
until autumn 1998: members of the Spiritual Heritage movements participated in the 1995 State Duma election within the CPRF list, and Gennady Zyuganov
Gennady Zyuganov
Gennady Andreyevich Zyuganov is a Russian politician, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation , Chairman of the Union of Communist Parties - Communist Party of the Soviet Union , deputy of the State Duma , and a member of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe...
on the other hand belonged to the leadership of the Spiritual Heritage (and according to some sources, was strongly influenced by Podberyozkin's political philosophy). The movement was one of the initiators and members of the pro-communist umbrella organization Popular-Patriotic Union of Russia (Народно-патриотический союз России), that gathered supporters of G. Zyuganov's presidential bid. The Spiritual Heritage movement eventually decided to participate independently in the 1999 State Duma election (Podberyozkin also considered running in the Fatherland list, for which reason he was expelled from the CPRF State Duma faction).
The ideology of the Spiritual Heritage movement can be characterized as statist
Statism
Statism is a term usually describing a political philosophy, whether of the right or the left, that emphasises the role of the state in politics or supports the use of the state to achieve economic, military or social goals...
, supporting a resurrection of the traditionally strong Russian state and favouring for this reason the rallying of nationalist forces around the CPRF as the main vehicle for statist ideology.
Since 1998, close relations between the movement and the Communist Party started to wane; Alexey Podberyozkin ran independently at the Russian presidential election, 2000
Russian presidential election, 2000
Russian presidential elections were held on 26 March 2000. Incumbent Prime Minister, and acting President Vladimir Putin, who had succeeded Boris Yeltsin on his resignation December 31, 1999, was seeking a four-year term in his own right and won the elections in the first round. Polling stations...
and endorsed Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
in the second round. In 2003, members of the Spiritual Heritage founded the United Socialist Party of Russia
United Socialist Party of Russia
The United Socialist Party of Russia was a socialist political party in Russia established in 2003, that succeeded the Spiritual Heritage movement. In the 2003 legislative elections it was part of the Rodina coalition that won 9.2 percent of the vote and 37 of the 450 seats in the Duma. In 2008...
.