The Russian populists occupied a special position in the history of Russian thought with their distinct theoretical viewpoints, unique problem awareness, complex evolutionary process, and far-reaching historical influence. Facing the historical dilemma of “Where is Russia going?”, the populists responded by basing on their own traditions and western modern resources. In the cultural program they constructed, they emphasized the people-oriented nature, the tradition of the peasant commune, and cultural enlightenment. They attempted to seek social justice and the liberation of the masses through a dual critique of autocratic and capitalist systems. However, due to multiple reasons such as conceptual mismatches, disconnection from reality, and false promises, this exploration ultimately ended in failure. Also based on reflections on this, Russian thinkers finally found the truth in Marxist theory and put it into practice, exploring a path to modernization different from that of the West.

　　Editor: Zhong Yao  LiuTingting

　　From:Studies on Marxism.2025.No.5.