The Vision and Legacy of Daria Dugina

Constantin von Hoffmeister reflects on Daria Dugina’s role as an influential voice in Eurasianism and her ideational impact marked by a tragic end.

“The foundation of the Fourth Political Theory is Dasein; the essence of the Fourth Political Theory is the vision of the Sacred; the profound substance of the Fourth Political Theory is the reality of the Soul.”

— René-Henri Manusardi

In commemorating Daria Dugina, who would have turned thirty-one today, we remember her as a figure deeply embedded within the political and philosophical landscape of contemporary Russia.

Dugina’s professional journey saw her evolve into a spokesperson for Eurasianism. She often spoke of Europe as a “Rimland,” caught between the American and Eurasian spheres of influence, and advocated a Russian-led empire to counter Western dominance. This vision of an empire was seen by Dugina as a voluntary alliance defending the sovereignty of its members, emphasizing the shared Eastern Slavic roots of Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians, while acknowledging the growing resistance to this idea, particularly in Ukraine.

Her writings frequently touched on the decline of liberalism, celebrating what she took as the termination of eras symbolized by leaders like France’s Emmanuel Macron and hoping for a redirection of American global focus under Donald Trump. Dugina envisioned Russia as an “island of freedom” against what she perceived as the totalitarianism of liberal democracy. Her ideal Russia blended leftist economics with right-wing conservatism, a combination she believed was uniquely suited to the Russian context, despite its apparent contradictions in Western political thought.

Dugina believed we lived in the Kali Yuga, a world age signifying the end of various cultural and ideological paradigms. She considered this period as one characterized by the decay of traditional values, a phenomenon she associated with the rise of liberalism and the accompanying fragmentation of the human spirit and culture.

Her critique of modernity is rooted in the belief that the current time represents a departure from traditional hierarchical structures and divine order, with modernity leading to a disintegration of these values. This degeneration is masked by attractive yet superficial modern concepts, such as “human rights,” which she regarded as cultural imperialism. Dugina argued that such concepts are unique to Western cultures, and their worldwide enforcement suggests an underlying sense of cultural superiority or racism.

Dugina regularly discussed the Fourth Political Theory, seeing it as a synthesis that incorporates the positive aspects of past ideologies — democracy from liberalism, solidarity and anti-capitalism from communism, and hierarchy from fascism — while addressing their respective shortcomings.

Concerning gender and age, Dugina felt that every individual, irrespective of these factors, has unique ways to connect with tradition and challenge modernity. She rejected the values promoted by globalist youth, instead propagating a return to traditional norms and spiritual realization.

In her comparative perspective on East and West, Dugina initially perceived Europe as irredeemably dominated by liberalism but later discovered anti-globalist movements there. This led her to distinguish between a liberal, Atlanticist Europe and an alternative, Traditionalist Europe aligned with Eurasianism.

Dugina’s message to North American activists emphasized the importance of using modern means to combat the modern paradigm, drawing inspiration from the notion of the “differentiated man” described by Julius Evola, which argues for engaging with modern society while internally preserving traditional values. She believed in engaging in a spiritual war against modernity to uphold the truth of the Perennial Tradition.

Dugina linked the political struggle for the Fourth Political Theory with the establishment of a metaphysical order, asserting that politics is a manifestation of fundamental metaphysical principles foundational to being.

Dugina’s stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine was unambiguously supportive. She regarded the invasion as a manifestation of the empire she had long envisioned, interpreting it as the final challenge to Western hegemony. She refused to believe in the supposed “war crimes” attributed to Russian forces, which she claimed were staged to manipulate Western audiences and intimidate Ukrainians. This position led to her being sanctioned by the United States and Britain in July 2022, a move she criticized, asserting her identity as a journalist.

Dugina’s death in August 2022 was a significant event that stirred international attention and controversy. The circumstances surrounding her death have been the subject of various reports and claims, leading to a complex and multifaceted narrative.

According to a report in The New York Times, US intelligence agencies believe parts of the Ukrainian government authorized the car bomb attack near Moscow that killed Dugina. This assessment suggests that elements within the Ukrainian government might have been involved in what appears to be a political assassination. After the killing, Vladimir Putin posthumously awarded Dugina the Order of Courage, a prestigious state award, for her courage and selflessness in the performance of her professional duties.

DARIA, PRESENTE!