启蒙时代的俄国形象与“欧洲”建构——对伏尔泰俄国历史著作的分析

Russia's Images in the Enlightenment Age and Construction of “Europe”:Analysis of Voltaire's Works on Russian History

启蒙时代是"欧洲"建构的关键时期,而介于欧亚之间的俄国,对"欧洲"观念的建构具有重要影响。在启蒙思想家中,伏尔泰构造了较为权威的启蒙运动模式的俄国观,将其刻画为一个通过学习"欧洲",从而摆脱野蛮、落后,在"文明化"方面取得巨大成就的国家。同时,繁荣先进、文明开化的"欧洲"形象也呈现在这种俄国镜像中。伏尔泰塑造的俄国形象,对其后几百年欧洲的身份认同和欧俄关系产生了深刻的影响。俄国作为"学徒"的预设的不平等地位,在数百年中主导了欧洲关于俄国的话语,至今仍然是导致欧俄关系紧张的重要因素之一。

The Age of Enlightenment is a crucial period for the construction of ＂Europe＂. Russia, in between Asia and Europe, has a significant impact on the construction of the concept of ＂Europe＂. Among the enlightenment thinkers, Voltaire constructed a relatively authoritative Enlightenment model of Russia, portraying it as a country making great achievements in ＂civilizing＂ through learning from ＂Europe＂ in order to get rid of savagery and backwardness. In addition, a prosperous, advanced and civilized ＂Europe＂ image was also reflected in this Russian mirror. The Russian image, created by Voltaire, has profound influences on the identity of Europe and Europe-Russian relations in the subsequent several centuries. The unequal status of Russia as an ＂apprentice＂ in the presupposition, dominating European discourse regarding Russia in several centuries, has still been one of the important factors leading to tensions of Europe-Russia relations so far.