In Soviet history, one can observe a unique phenomenon—nihilism, which emerged as a reaction against established cultural and moral values.

Soviet Nihilism: The Utilitarian Erosion of Cultural Spirit

In Soviet history, one can observe a unique phenomenon—nihilism, which emerged as a reaction against established cultural and moral values. This protest against tradition became a powerful impetus that reshaped the very organization of the country’s cultural and political life. Under the communist system, nihilistic tendencies shifted toward utilitarianism, emphasizing the need to subordinate the individual and his creative potential to state goals. Such a stance, aimed at replacing spiritual benchmarks with practical tasks, inevitably led to an impoverishment of the inner world of the individual and a loss of genuine creativity.

This dynamic can be seen as a clash between two worldviews: on one hand—the aspiration for human liberation and the fight against traditional romantic templates, and on the other—the strict suppression of individuality for utilitarian objectives. Although nihilism had its positive aspects, such as initiatives for emancipation and the promotion of an active life stance, it gradually transformed into a potent tool that undermined the spiritual foundations of society. Had the principles of total nihilism been fully implemented within communist ideology, the consequences for culture would have been even more destructive than those recorded in history.

Ultimately, the abandonment of traditional moral and aesthetic guidelines not only limited creative potential but also deprived culture of depth and diversity. In this context, nihilism became a dual phenomenon—its emancipatory potential was ultimately replaced by destructive consequences for the individual, prompting reflection on the cost of utilitarianism and the necessity of preserving cultural spiritual foundations.

How did nihilism arise in the USSR, and what impact did it have on the cultural-political situation?

In the USSR, elements of nihilism manifested as a reaction to traditional cultural and moral norms, which soon influenced the organization of the country’s cultural-political life. In theory, had the program of Russian nihilism been fully realized within the communist system, the results for culture would have been even more devastating. This was evident in the utilitarian approach whereby the individual and his creative abilities were suppressed in the name of achieving utilitarian goals, leading to an impoverishment of spiritual life and creative potential.

For example, one source notes:
"If the program of Russian nihilism had been completely implemented in Russian communism, the outcomes for cultural quality would have been more destructive than what we see in Soviet culture. The emergence of the 'thinking realist' signified the rise of a tougher type than the 'idealist of the 1940s' and, at the same time, a more active one. The cultural archetype was degraded. Yet in Pisarov’s nihilism there was also a healthy reaction against barren romantic dreaminess, inaction, laziness, and the selfish internalization, along with a strong call to labor and the pursuit of knowledge, albeit in a one-sided manner. In nihilism there was a fundamental and effective emancipation. The movement held enormous and positive significance for the emancipation of women. A similar process repeated itself in our case during the transition from the type of individuals who created the cultural renaissance of the early 20th century (the 'idealist' movement of that era) to that of the Russian communist. The ideologists of communism failed to notice the radical contradiction underlying all their aspirations. They sought the liberation of the individual, declaring an uprising against all beliefs, all norms, and all abstract ideas in the name of this emancipation. In the name of freeing the individual, they overthrew religion, philosophy, art, and morality, thereby denying the spirit and spiritual life. In doing so, they suppressed the individual, deprived it of qualitative substance, emptied its inner life, and denied its right to creativity and spiritual enrichment. The principle of utilitarianism is profoundly adverse to the principle of individuality, as it subordinates the individual to utilitarian benefit—which tyrannically rules over the individual. Nihilism manifested as a violent, externally imposed asceticism in both thought and creativity."
(source: link txt)

Thus, in the Soviet context, nihilism became a tool for the rejection of old values, facilitating the introduction of utilitarian, even anti-spiritual practices into the cultural and political life. Abandoning traditional moral and artistic benchmarks resulted in the loss of individuality and creative spirit, which in turn impacted the overall quality of culture and public life.