Chuko Sensho 150 Russia towa nanimonoka (What is Russia? - The Present Penetrated by the Past)

What are the historical characteristics of the Russian state and society? This book is a compilation of 13 essays and two supplements written to answer this question. The introductory chapter, “Fundamental features of Russian History,” compares Russia and Europe with reference to the theses of Otto Brunner, Eiichi Hizen, and Taiichiro Oh’e, by focusing on land structures, family patterns, and legal cultures. A common perspective throughout this book is that Russian legal culture places the sovereign above the law, which has become a major historical characteristic of Russia. This book’s discussion emphasizes the distinctiveness of Russia while also highlighting Europe’s exceptionalism.
 
When discussing Russia, we cannot forget that it is a place of diverse regions and ethnic groups. We also need to consider the degree of continuity between the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the Russian Federation. Through chapters such as “History of the Crimean Peninsula” and “New Horizons of the Soviet Empire Theory,” the book focuses on the regional and ethnic diversity that characterizes Russian history. Further, it attempts to situate the 20^th century within the long history of Russia, highlighting the characteristics of the socialist Soviet Union through chapters such as “20th Century of Europe and Russia” and “Gorbachev, the Revolutionary Who Led to the Collapse of the Soviet Union.”
 
Five of the essays have been written specially for this book. Two of them—“Integration of Central and Local Authorities” and “Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights L’vova-Belova”—deal with contemporary Russian politics. Analyzing the current situation was challenging for me as a historian, but I decided to write these two essays because I believe one cannot understand the present without understanding the past. “Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights L’vova-Belova” is a critical biography of the official responsible for the deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia during the Russia–Ukraine war. It sheds light on the local recognition she gained for her charity work, her victory in a young leaders’ competition, and her subsequent appointments to key political roles. The essay examines how Putin’s Russia is reproducing (recruiting) its elite.
 
Overall, the chapters on contemporary Russia helped me strengthen my conviction that history is being written right before our eyes. It is impossible to clearly delineate the past and the present since the present is directly linked to the past. Being aware of the historical nature of the present moment may enable us to understand more deeply the “now.”
 

(Written by IKEDA Yoshiro, Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology / 2026)