‘Enthusiasts’ and ‘Fanatics’: The Decembrists as a Case Study in French Influence on Russian Culture, Emotions and Thought

Key Points

• The study aims to explore the influence of French culture on Russia's emotional landscape during the Decembrist uprising of 1825.
• Historical analysis of cultural influences from France to Russia
• Examination of emotional expressions in the context of the uprising
• Review of existing Soviet and Western scholarship on the event
• French cultural elements significantly influenced Russian emotional cultures
• Insights from the Decembrist uprising reveal a complex bilateral relationship
• Historical narratives about emotions in Russia have been enriched by this cultural framework

Abstract