French-Russian relations: Taking into account the development of Russian national consciousness between 1789 and 1825

This thesis examines the relationship between Franco-Russian relations during the period 1789-1825 and the development of a Russian national consciousness. The theoretical framework is provided by fundamental theories of nationalism, ranging from Karl Deutsch to Benedict Anderson. The relations between the two countries, which are examined during the period under study, are of a cultural, military and diplomatic nature. Cultural transfer can be described as largely one-sided, that is, from France to Russia. The wars against Napoleon significantly intensified the conflict between Russian intellectuals and French cultural dominance. The year 1812 marked a quantum leap in the burgeoning Russian national consciousness, which subsequently continued to develop and reached its first peak in the Decembrist Uprising of 1825.