| Homo ethnicus | |
| Language: | Russian |
| Subject: | Political manifesto Political philosophy |
| Release Date: | 29 May 2023 |
| Media Type: | Print (Digital) |
Homo ethnicus (Latin for "Ethnic Man") is a political manifesto that was created by the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) in May 2023. A far-right paramilitary unit of Russian citizens, based in Ukraine. In May 2023, the RVC's leader, Denis Kapustin described himself as a "patriot", a "traditionalist", a "right-winger", but rejected the label "neo-Nazi", saying "you’ll never find me waving a flag with a swastika, you’ll never find me raising my hand in a Hitler salute. So why would you call me that?"[1]
The manifesto begins with a condemnation of the average apolitical Russian, their only concern being “the disruption of consumer goods supply chains” whilst "the Ukrainian population is under shelling and genocide" – a condemnation common throughout the wider anti-war infosphere generally – before moving onto establishing their own understanding of the previously mentioned difference between Russkih and Rossiyanin; "passionate national forces versus pot-bellied philistines mired in everyday problems". In this, the RVC seeks to establish themselves as a seeming vanguard of national purity, the last remaining "true" ethnic Russians fighting for their conception of national liberation.[2] The manifesto notably terms to compare races such as "us" and "them". The manifesto also rejects both Liberalism and Communism while presenting a third way – an "Ethnic worldview" encompassing unity by blood and by nation which was a similar ethnic world view of the Nazi party.[3] The manifesto also talked about "the ability to take risks and sacrifice oneself for the sake of a high ideal".[4] It also advocates for "cleansing" of the current Russia and the creation of a pure-blooded Russian ethnostate.[5]
Yulia Latynina compared the organization's manifesto to Mein Kampf.[6]