Traditional Values in Russia: Mythology, Ideology, and Reality

The development of Russian nationhood in last three decades is characterized by intensive search for a new identity, in which the concept of so-called traditional values plays a significant role. In the presentation, the following aspects will be highlighted:

·         Main components of the TV discourse in Russa: traditional family, and the metaphysics of Russian unique civilization;

·         The role of the “West” as the essential part of TV concept; their defense as Russia’s historical mission on behalf of humanity;

·         The origins of the concept of traditional values in early 2000th within the Russian Orthodox theological framework;

·         The gradual political-ideological transformation of the concept from 2010 until present;

·         The sources of traditional values: “suitable past”, “continuity”’ as the key element of the interpretation of history, sacralization of the Victory;

·         The “Wishlist” of traditional values and its varieties;

·         The correlation of traditional values and everyday moral practices (cases study); 

·         Traditional values as “empty signifier”.

Bio: Elena A. Stepanova, Doct. Sci. (Philosophy), is Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Law, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Principal Research Fellow at the Ural Institute of Humanities, Ural Federal University (Yekaterinburg, Russia). Her main research interests are centered around inter-religious dialogue, religion in public space, and contemporary Christianity. Presently, she serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Changing Societies & Personalities