Erokhin, I.Yu.
Cossack Liberties as a Sign of Ethnicity of Cossacks
// Politics and Society.
2015. ¹ 1.
P. 30-42.
URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=54331
Erokhin, I.Yu. Cossack Liberties as a Sign of Ethnicity of Cossacks
Abstract: The subject of the study is the Cossacks as a category of ethno-social representations based
on the philosophy of freedom of expressions. The authors of the article show the need to integrate the
historical experience of Cossack associations into modern society. At all times Cossack communities
had the two forms: social (military servicers) and ethnic (natural Cossacks). The aim of the research
is to describe the situation that on the basis of socio-natural character of the duality of the Cossacks
formed controversial history of the Cossacks. Research methodology involves comparative historical
analysis, synthesis of monographic studies, polemical analogy to interpretation of generally accepted
concepts. The result of the research article is that the author views the principles of Cossack liberties
to be the basis of ethnic ideology of the Cossack communities as opposed to the state (Imperial) doctrine
of the nature of the Cossack mentality and views. Ways of integrating traditional Cossack way
of life in the socially dynamic environment are shown. Further researches can be used to understand
the role of the Cossacks in the development of the Russian state. Many historians directly and openly
say that in the XV–XVI centuries and up to the middle of the XVII century, Cossack ethnicity was
perceived as a foreign element, harmful and dangerous. Conclusion. The paradigm of Russian Cossacks
as Russian ethnic subgroup is based on the recognition of historical facts forming the Cossacks
out of heterogeneous nations while maintaining its Slavic, or Great Russian anthropological dominant
and grounds. Along with the general Great Russian dominating features, Cossack social community
also had other specific differences in culture, psychology and lifestyle of military services.