Construction of Russian exceptionalism: first Orientologists in Russian academia

Since the exact positioning of the Russian state and society between “the East” and “the West” has long been a contested topic, the term “Russian Orientalism” has emerged as a frequent keyword in Russia and Eurasia-related area studies. This paper investigates one source of this "Orientalism" in the socalled “Russian exceptionalism” or “uniqueness”. To this end, first supporting arguments are sought in Russian academia from the 19th century, through which the growing impact of Orientologists led to the promotion of ideas that followed the official tenets of Russian imperialism. It will be therefore argued that with the increasing support of academic works, the effect of “spatiality” that emerged as “in-between status” provided a more hegemonic and stronger Russian mentality that was nurtured by both the similarities and/or contrasts with the nation’s Western and Eastern neighbors. One strong argument will remain, however, as an ongoing area of evaluation – suggesting that the “civilized” Russian central elites continue to search for their State’s “Orient” within the conquered “eastern” territories, such as in the Caucasus, Idel/Volga or in Central Asia (Turkestan).