The Word “Politics” in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s A Writer’s Diary

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Author: Mariia V. Mikhnovets
Information about the author:
Mariia V. Mikhnovets, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor, Philological Department of Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Moyka Emb., 48, 191186 St. Petersburg, Russia; Research Fellow, F.M. Dostoevsky Literary-Memorial Museum in St. Petersburg, Dostoevsky St, 5/2, 191002 St. Petersburg, Russia; Senior Researcher, Laboratory “Comparative Studies and Imagology” of the Faculty of Philology of the TSU Research Institute, Lenin Ave., 36, 634034 Tomsk, Russia.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7818-2321

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Funding Sources:
The reported study was funded by RSF, project number № 25-28-01407.
For citation:
Mikhnovets, M.V. “The Word ‘Politics’ in Dostoevsky’s A Writer’s Diary.” Dostoevsky and World Culture. Philological journal, no. 1 (33), 2026, pp. 135–149. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22455/2619-0311-2026-1-135-149
Received: 11 Sept. 2025
Approved after reviewing: 29 Oct. 2025
Published: 25 March 2026
Issue: 2026 no. 1 (33)
Department: DOSTOEVSKY'S LANGUAGE
Pages: 135–149
DOI: Visit Website
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https://elibrary.ru/RXMZJF
UDK: 821.161.1.0+82.0
BBK: 83.3(2Рос=Рус)+83
Publication Type: Research Article
Keywords: Fyodor Dostoevsky, A Writer’s Diary, politics, people, Russia, Europe
Abstract: The article examines the peculiarities of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s understanding of the word “politics” based on materials from A Writer’s Diary. The analysis of the text shows that Dostoevsky interprets politics as a crafty and secretive behavior aimed at pursuing one’s own interests. The chapter titled “Idealistic-Cynics” holds a special place within the context of this topic. In this chapter, Dostoevsky engages in a debate with Timofey Granovsky’s ideas about the nature of politics, discussing whether ethical and moral principles can be applied to politics. When interpreting the actions of European states, Dostoevsky emphasizes the idea of politics as a series of actions committed in the name of false, pseudo-national interests. According to the creator of A Writer’s Diary, European politics is not an expression of a unified national aspiration, but rather the will of individual rulers. The opposition between politics and national spirit remains constant for Dostoevsky. When discussing the nature of politics, Dostoevsky frequently refers to a specific period of time, which he describes as “our bicentennial period of history” or “the Petersburg period”, among other terms. For the publicist, the emergence of the phenomenon of “politics” in Russian society is closely linked to the reforms of Peter the Great. According to Dostoevsky, however, only members of the privileged, European-oriented classes are exposed to the “crafty” aspects of politics. In contrast, people’s politics is a policy based on the highest principles, a policy driven by the heart and not focused on local, short-term interests but rather aimed at addressing global issues. Dostoevsky’s vision of people’s policy is centered on the unity of all Orthodox Slavic peoples and selfless service to European nations.

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