This is the first book in English for half a century to examine the complexities of Russian messianism, both as a whole and in its interaction with Communism. Peter Duncan considers its Orthodox roots and focuses on Russia's geopolitical experience and situation to explain the endurance of this phenomenon.

Introduction 1. The origins of Russian messianism 2. The Slavophils and Russian messianism under Nicholas I 3. Pro-Tsarist forms of Russian messianism: Pan-Slavism, Dostoevsky and Solovyov 4. Messianism and revolution: from Herzen to Stalin 5. De-Stalinization and the growth of Russian national consciousness: the Khrushchev era 6. The Brezhnev era: cultural Russian nationalism 7. The Breshnev era: dissident Russian messianism 8. Andropov and Chernenko against Russian nationalism 9. Gorbachev and the end of empire 10. Post-Soviet Russia: the victories and defeat of Gennady Ziuganov Conclusion