Eurasianism

Eurasianism is a political and intellectual current that posits the Eurasian landmass—roughly Europe and Asia—as a single civilizational and geopolitical space, distinct from Western liberal models. Proponents emphasize broader cultural, historical, and geographic continuities across the continent and argue for a synthesis of European and Asian elements, rather than alignment with either side of the traditional East–West divide. The term has taken on various meanings in different times and places, ranging from philosophical and ethnographic theories to concrete geopolitical programs.

Historical origins of Eurasianism trace back to Russian émigré circles in the early 20th century, where scholars discussed the cultural and civilizational unity of Eurasia beyond Europe or Asia alone. A later strand, associated with ethnographer Lev Gumilyov, developed ideas about ethnogenesis and civilizational types across the Eurasian space, highlighting cross-cultural interactions among peoples of the region. In the post‑Soviet era, the concept was revived and broadened by political thinkers who sought to articulate a distinct Russian or continental Eurasian identity in relation to globalization and Western influence.

In contemporary discourse, Eurasianism is closely linked to the work of philosophers and strategists who advocate for a multipolar world and a civilizational alliance that includes Russia, parts of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and sometimes Europe’s eastern periphery. It is often associated with the aim of countering liberal-democratic models and promoting regional integration, strategic autonomy, and cultural pluralism. Scholarly treatment of Eurasianism emphasizes its varied interpretations, its influence on policy discourse in Russia and neighboring regions, and the debates over nationalism, imperial nostalgia, and methodological rigor in civilizational analysis.