In their view, Western ideas such as industrialisation needed to be implemented throughout Russia to make it a more successful country.
[1] In some contexts of Russian history, zapadnichestvo can be contrasted with Slavophilia, whose proponents argued that Russia should develop its own unique identity and culture, based on its Slavic heritage.
He exposed the cultural isolation of Russia, from the perspective of Western Europe, and his Philosophical Letters of 1831.
He extolled the achievements of Catholic Europe, especially in rational and logical thought, its progressive spirit and its leadership in science and on the path to freedom.
He agitated for the emancipation of the Russian serfs, and after that took place in 1861 he enlarged his platform to include common ownership of land, government by the people and stronger individual rights.