THE SEA OF RUSSIAN CULTURE (RUSSIAN IDENTITY AND THE CONCEPT OF TOLERANCE)

As an alternative to V.L. Tsymbursky’s historic-philosophical and geopolitical concept of “Russia as an Island”, the author suggests her own cultural metaphor that is more adequate to Russian history and civilization. While in leading national geopolitical schools, Russia is associated with Land, the author puts forward a new concept comparing Russia to Sea, thus deconstructing a number of opposing geopolitical ideas. The proposed metaphor underlines both the specificity, “singularity”, and uniqueness of Russian culture and its association with the «ocean of world civilization». This metaphor helps formulate a “Russian idea” in the light of new global challenges that threaten the Russian state and Russian culture today. It also helps to get a better insight into the geographical losses on the Post-Soviet territory.