Axis Mundi, časopis štu-

Egalitarian Utopias and Conservative Politics

Veche as a Societal Ideal within Rodnoverie Movement

Kaarina Aitamurto

Aleksanteri Institute, Finnish Centre for Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Helsinki Rodnoverie is a religion that seeks to revive pre-Christian Slavic spirituality. As the majority of contemporary Pagan religions, Rodnoverie is characterized by the antiauthoritarian spirit and avoidance of dogmatism. Similar vernacular and individualistic ideals can also be seen in the societal views of Rodnoverie. Rodnovers often present the veche, the ancient Slavic popular assembly, to be an ideal model of governance. Nevertheless, the representations of the veche may considerably vary. On the one hand, veche is employed to promote grass-root democracy. On the other hand, the ideal of the veche has also been used by Ronovers who are reflecting democracy highly critically. The aim of this paper is to examine these contradictious Rodnoverie representations of the veche and Rodnoverie societal ideals in general. As a case study of vernacular political visioning, Rodnoverie provides an interesting outlook both on the recent resurrection of Slavophil political tradition in Russia and on the attempts to establish native roots for democratic values.

Rodnoverie, contemporary Paganism

2003). In Eastern Europe, however, the most prominent feature of the movement is
Rodnoverie is a part of the international nationalism. Some parts of the Rodnoverie religious movement of contemporary Paganisms. movement even have close links with ultraHowever, the majority of the believers reject the nationalist, racist and anti-Semitist politics word ‘paganism’ as derogatory.¹ Within the (Shnirelman, 1998; Pribylovsky, 1999). These movement, the most widely accepted term is connections have significantly influenced the ‘Rodnoverie’, which derives from the words public image of Rodnoverie, but there are also

• ‘rodnaya vera’, native faith (Kavykin, 2007).
• groups that have taken a negative stand towards

As most forms of contemporary Paganisms, national-chauvinism (Koskello, 2005; Kavykin, Rodnoverie values freedom of conscience and 2007). Furthermore, the Rodnoverie nationalism avoids hierarchic and authoritarian structures. In has numerous nuances: While part of the consequence, the movement is extremely movement is committed to very tangible political heterogeneous and difficult to demarcate. These aims, some Rodnoverie groups focus more on the features also make the approximation of the revival of the ‘native culture’.³

• number of adherents difficult. On the basis of
• Rodnovers, as well as Pagans in general, often

available information, I estimate that there are at link their societal views with their religiosity. This least 10 000 Rodnovers in Russia,² but I expect is not surprising bearing in mind that Paganism is this number to be an underestimation. Although characteristically a this-worldly religion. It is not there are no extensive demographic statistics on so interested in the transcendence, but focuses Rodnovers, most of the studies on the subject on life here and now. Pagans usually subscribe to agree that there is more men than women a pantheist worldview; Pagan gods are often involved in the movement and that majority of seen as manifesting in nature, and the natural the adherents are relatively young and educated realm is perceived as inhabited by various spirits. above the average (Gaidukov, 2000; Prokof’ev et. This outlook has led many contemporary Pagans

• al., 2006).
• to engage in various environmental activities.

Liberal political and societal views have been Pagans’ political outlooks have also been noticed to predominate within Western informed by the ideals of communality and contemporary Pagans (Berger, Leach & Shaffer, equality. These values have, however, inspired

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most diverging societal projects. The same veche has frequently been displayed as an ‘Pagan ideals’ or ‘Pagan values’ can be found in exemplum of anti-hierarchic and democratic such radically different societal utopias as in the tradition in Russian history, both by 19^th and writings of a famous American pacifist, feminist early 20^th century intellectuals, and by Soviet and a witch, Starhawk, and ultra rightist, racist scholars and ideologists (Granberg, 2004) On the Odinism. Societal concerns are indeed prominent other hand, the counter-argumentation may have in many forms of contemporary Paganism and been aggravated by an urge to denounce the consequently, some previous studies have rigid Marxist interpretations of the veche as ‘prefocused on examining Pagan religiosity as a capitalist democracy’.⁴ The aim of this article is domain of societal and moral explorations (Pike, not to assess the validity of these interpretations

• 2001; Salomonsen, 2002).
• – a task that I neither have competence for.

The raison d'etre of Rodnoverie is to revive Nevertheless, in order to understand the pre-Christian Slavic spirituality. In their societal Rodnoverie interpretation of the veche it is vital explorations, Rodnovers also often seek models to outline some features of the cultural context from history. Nevertheless, the majority of which they draw to.

• Rodnovers are not aiming at to restore the Iron
• Although Soviet science naturally did not limit

Age societal order as such any more than they itself to the teachings of Engels and Marx and think that Paganism as a religion could be the these thinkers were often interpreted rather same in the modern world as it was centuries selectively, some Marxist conceptions managed ago. In fact, many Rodnovers pride themselves to establish themselves in Russia quite on the fact that Paganism as non-dogmatic effectively. For example, the theory of Engels on religion is so apt to adjust to the changing world the original communism and the link between the and stress that they are merely honouring and emergence of private property, inequality, state reviving the spirit of pre-Christian spirituality. The and religion significantly shaped the general pre-Christian societal order is, however, often understanding about history in Russia.⁵ The film presented as a possible source for inspiration in portrays Slavs as happy and honest people, who the modern world. One of the most tangible and have an egalitarian society and live in harmony

• prominent of these models is the veche.
• with nature. The villains of the movie are the

aggressive invading nomads and Byzantines, who are leading a corrupted and artificial life of decadence. Although the cinema ends happily as

Veche

The veche was a popular assembly that has the Slavs reject the impending threats, the scene been documented to function in Russia and implies that the later Christening of Russia will Eastern Europe from the 10^th into the 15^th mark the victory of Byzantine and the imposition century. Especially famous is the Novgorodian of slavery and unequal societal structure upon veche which was dismantled in the year 1478. the free and ‘democratic’ Russians. For the way The roots of the veche lie in the Iron Age tribal paganism is seen by many Rodnovers this is the society, and the early veches probably resembled narrative and the image that has been the the Scandinavian ting. However, it is arguable compelling one.

• how much common do the various Iron Age
• While the veche is in Russian discourse often

assemblies have with the more urban, medieval associated with democracy, it also bears some veches. Although the veche has traditionally nationalistic liaisons. In looking at the issue in been associated with vernacular politics, the the framework of the classic Russian division democratic nature of the late veche institution between Zapadniks and Slavophiles, the veche has also been disputed. In the study of the falls more naturally into the domain of the latter veche, one of the problems is that the subject one. For example, in Soviet times, the famous

• matter has often entangled with delicate issues samizdat journal Veche (1971
• –
• 1974)

of politics and of national self-understanding. The functioned, in accordance with its name, as an

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open forum for most various viewpoints and was diverge. Next I will discuss four themes that at the same time firmly anchored to the Russian occur in the interpretations of the veche: spiritual tradition (Hammer, 1984). Within Patriarchal order, the solidarity of homogeneity, nationalistic circles, the concept of Veche is not, particularistic criticism of democracy and the however, embraced only by the democratically democratic criticism of democracy. oriented quarters, as is attested by the name of the contemporary ultranationalist newspaper the Patriarchal order ‘Russian Veche’.
As in the case of the ancient Greek democracy,

Veche in Rodnoverie

the veche did not follow the ideal of universal suffrage, but the right to vote was reserved to
Several Rodnoverie communities call their the free men. In contemporary Rodnoverie, organisational structures Veche. The word is patriarchal tendencies are especially evident in used on international level, as in the Veche of the Church of Inglings, which sees the veche as ‘Slavic Native Faith’ (Rodnaja vera), which an assembly of the heads of households, of gathers adherents from Poland, Ukraine, ‘fathers’. The societal model that the Church Belorussia and Russia every summer); on promotes does indeed base on hierarchical national level by such umbrella organisations as structure of family and gender. According to the Circle of Pagan Tradition (CPT, Krug Inglings, women are so tied to their natural task Yazycheskoi Traditsii), the Union of Slavic of reproduction that they cannot, for example, Communities of the Slavic Native Faith (USC SNF, obtain the highest level of spirituality which is Soyuz Slavyanskikh Obshchin Slavyanskoi Rodnoi reserved to men only (Trekhlebov, 2004, 227). Very) and The Ancient Russian Ingliistic Church Consequently, the church regards men to be of Orthodox Old Believers-Inglings (ARICOOBI, naturally more competent for political assignment Drevnerusskaya Ingliisticheskaya tserkov’ and public life in general.

• Prvoslavnykh Staroverov-Inglingov); and on the
• The Church of Inglings is in many ways an

level of individual communities. On Rodnoverie exceptional case within Rodnoverie and majority Internet sites the forum for general discussion of other Rodnoverie groups do not acknowledge may also be labelled as veche. The general the church.⁷ Some patriarchal features can, Rodnoverie interpretation of veche is defined, for however, be easily found in the societal thinking example, in the Kolomonskoe obrashchenie as a of other Rodnoverie groups as well. For example, principle of ‘from below and to the top’ (s nizu i although the majority of Rodnovers claim their do verkhu)⁶ (Nagovitsyn, 2005) model that could religion to challenge the denigration of femininity have relevance in the modern world. The in Western culture, there are some philosophical traditional, vernacular forms of community are, premises that cause gendered discrimination however, evoked by other terms as well. especially in the matters of political decision Rodnoverie groups are usually called making. Very few Rodnoverie communities ‘obshchina’s’ as were called Russian peasant restrict women’s participation in public events or communities. Occasionally such concepts as in decision making. In fact, several Rodnoverie ‘skhod’, ‘sobor’ or ‘mir’ are used either as terms leaders declare women to be spiritually more for meetings, or referred to in more general gifted. Next to wizards (volkhv) and priests discussions about communality in Russian (zhrets), Rodnoverie communities usually also tradition. The idea of ‘artel’ is evoked by Andreev have priestesses (zhritsa) or witches (vedun’ya). in his psychologically oriented exploration of the There are some influential women leaders and Russian tradition (Andreev, 2000). Even though writers within Rodnoverie, such as, for example, all these ideals share some common basic the figurehead of Ukrainian Ridna Vira, Halyna assumptions, the perceptions on veche and Lozko, but they are in minority even vernacular form of governance may also violently remembering the disproportionate number of

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men within the movement. Paganism is often not have the concepts of sin and absolution. understood as a nature religion that celebrates Instead, they argue that all acts have both life and fertility. Emancipation from the feelings negative and positive outcomes, which should be of guilt attached to sexuality is done by the carefully reflected. As Western Pagans say, praise of gendered bodies. At the same time, quoting Ursula LeGuin, ‘to light a candle is to Rodnovers often appropriate conservative and cast a shadow’. The point is that people must live essentialist gender roles.⁸ Therefore, very often with the consequences of their actions. women are primarily seen - and extolled – as Consequently, the idea of responsibility is also

• mothers and home-makers.⁹
• one of the corner stones of the ecological

The patriarchal and conservative interpretation thinking within Paganism. Nevertheless, the of the veche may also conflict the ideal of demands of responsibility may also lead into democracy and equality. According to Inglings, undemocratic societal views, which limit the right universal suffrage inevitably leads into unwise to exercise power onto those who have ‘deserved decisions because the majority of people are not it’. ‘the wisest’. Nevertheless, an interesting point is, and a very emblematic of Paganism, that even Solidarity of homogeneity such an anti-democratic Rodnoverie organisation

• as the Church of Inglings feels the need to
• In many sense, Rodnoverie is a vernacular

bolster their claims by drawing to democratic project. On the religious level, it seeks to dissolve argumentation. In its political rhetoric and hierarchic structures of authority and encourage especially, in its understanding of political direct, personal connection with sacred. On the concepts, the Church of Inglings is extremely societal level, the movement strives at the creative and unconventional. They claims that concrete feelings of communality. On the political the ancient ‘samoderzhavie’ meant ‘people ruling level Rodnovers claim that they are challenging themselves’, and was thus expressing the highest the corrupted, alienated governance. They are form of the ‘true will of people’, even though this often highly suspicious about centralised power, ‘will’ was in practice exercised by the just ruler. a position that reflects the history of Russia; the Inglings argue that modern democracies are autocratic monarchy and the totalitarian forced to settle in the dictation of the ‘biggest communist power. Rodnovers may subscribe to minority’, whereas the ancient veches and mirs various political projects, but the main political based on consensual decision-making. ideals of Rodnoverie usually are the demands of

• (Trekhlebov, 2004: 229 – 255)
• societal solidarity and responsibility.

• Such patently elitist and conservative claims as
• In their search for the main obstacles for the

made by the Church of Inglings, are not solidarity or, for the roots of the political commonly supported by Rodnovers. However, shortcomings, Rodnovers may end up with very also the other bigger veches function in a similar different conclusions. The psychological principle, gathering the ‘eldest’ of the maturation of both citizens and authorities is, for community. For example, the international Veche example, the remedy provided by an influential has strict policy on who can have the status of a wizard Velimir in his analysis of the Russian participant and who has the right to vote (Slava!, thunder myth. According to the myth, Perun, the 2005). Also the political philosophy of Rodnoverie god of thunder, military and rulers slashes the may include some elements of elitism. A common snake that is guilty of theft. The snake has argumentation of conservative Rodnovers goes: traditionally been identified as Veles, the god of ‘the opinion of a prostitute cannot have the same cattle, poetry and the people. What Velimir is

• weight as the opinion of a professor’.
• suggesting is that the relationship of these gods

The elitism of Rodnoverie perceptions can, is actually linked to the change in natural cycles however, also is explained by the stress on and thereby is more balanced and not so individual responsibility. Pagan philosophy does antagonistic as in the later image. Velimir claims

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that by reinterpreting or ‘restoring’ the myth it is morality, Rodnoverie societal philosophy may possible to examine and process the very deep also converge anarchism, tough ‘anarchism’ as sociopsychological undercurrents of Russian such is usually rejected.¹¹ The same strange society. The aim of his societal project is to marriage between anarchism and ultra rightist remind the rulers of their role as the servants of ideology has also been noticed by Gardell in his people, which would, according to him, restore study of racist Odinists in America (Gardell, peoples’ loyalty and respect to the authority and 2003).

• by that, respect of law (Velimir, 1999).¹⁰
• The radical conservative rejection of the state

Instead of this kind of internal processing, as an institution finds support from the many ultra-nationalist Rodnovers find the cause Manichean vision attached to the idea of ZOG, of the problems of Russia from outside of it. the romantic idealization of the image of a lonely According to a softer version of this narrative, warrior and a social-Darwinist creed of the the modern multiculturalism prevents solidarity ‘survival of the fittest’.¹² In Rodnoverie that can only be sustained if people have at least narratives, the state is occasionally doomed as some shared values. The more radical approach ‘evil’, but a closer reading reveals that the targets aliens as non-Russian people who are rejection may be grounded in ultra rightist, ultra promoting their interests in the expense of leftist or ecological conviction. Although these Russians. The point of reference here is seem, and occasionally are, quite exclusive, they immigrants, other ethnic groups and especially, may also be entangled in the most varying ways.

• Jews. Many Rodnovers believe in the existence of
• Some Rodnovers declare democracy to be a

conspiratorial ‘Zionist Occupation Government’ sham form of ‘people’s power’, because people and consider Russia to be an ‘occupied country’. are innately unequal and thus have unequal Occasionally, Rodnoverie societal ideals seem ability to make judgments. Thus democracy is, rather unrealistic utopianism; ‘if only Russians according to this line of argumentation, destined could solve things by themselves there would be to either execute the primitive desires of the

• no problems’.
• masses or to work as a tool in the hands of the

In Rodnoverie societal outlooks, one of the ruthless elite. Nevertheless, the criticism of most outstanding controversies occur between democracy may also draw to Slavophile the ideals of solidarity and individualism. particularistic rhetoric by questioning the Furthermore, both of these are considered as applicability of Western models in Russia.

• characteristically Pagan values. Pagans denounce
• According to the Slavophil tradition, one of the

commands and prohibitions set by some outside most fundamental differences between Russia authority by claiming that only personally and the West lies in the perceptions of freedom reflected morality can be truly internalized. In and authority. Russians regard Western freedom consequence, the idealised ‘rodo-vaya obshchina’ to be external by nature and thereby superfluous consists of free, independent individuals that are and dependant on defined liberties. Russian able to function as a community because of their freedom, however, is claimed to be more of a

• shared moral commitment to the society.
• state of mind and thus more limitless and

The Rodnoverie conception of the veche as genuine. Consequently, it is argued that while
‘ethnic democracy’ is by no means a novel or Westerners need laws to keep up the order, the original concept. Similar ideas have been Russian society can, and should be based on presented, for example, within the French inner morality. In similar spirit, democracy is Nouvelle Droite as well (Benoist de, 1996) In the regarded as, to quote McDaniel, something case of the French Nouvelle Droite, this ‘petty’ and ‘mean-spirited’ (McDaniel, 1996: 45 – combination of ‘democratic values’, the ideal of 51). These perceptions are deeply rooted in multiculturalism and ethno-nationalistic or racist Russian intellectual tradition. It should be politics has confused several commentators. remembered, for example, that even among the (Bar-On, 2001) In its reliance on individual dissident critics of the Soviet Union there was a