Westernizers (/ˈzɑːpɑːdnɪk/; [за́падник] Error: {{Langx}}: invalid parameter: |p= (help)) were a group of 19th-century intellectuals who believed that Russia's development depended upon the adoption of Western European technology and liberal government. In their view, Western ideas such as industrialisation needed to be implemented throughout Russia to make it a more successful country. The Russian term was зáпадничество (západnichestvo, "westernism"), and its adherents were known as the за́падники (západniki, "westernists").[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.[2]
In Russia since 2000, the debate rages on how much of western values and methods to adopt or reject.[3]
In modern usage, especially in the developing world, the term can refer to supporters of Western-style economic development.