ABSTRACT
The destabilizing potential of Russian nationalism lies in its capacity to upset the fragile modus vivendi between Russians and non-Russians in Soviet society. A stable political system is one whose basic character or "critical components" persist for long periods of time without fundamental alteration or are altered gradually, without marked discontinuities. The resurgence of Russian nationalism began in the mid-1960s and was manifested almost immediately on four different levels: underground; in legally published literature and scholarship; among political elites; and in organizations with official patronage. Political stability in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is to a significant degree contingent upon a community of assumptions, or a world view, among political and other elites. The rise of Russian nationalism may alter this carefully devised and balanced policy, becoming a significant threat to political stability. The destabilizing effects of Russian nationalism are likely to be felt primarily through its impact on official policy and non-Russian reactions to that policy.
