The heuristic potential of a civilization methodology in sociological research of legal culture of the Russians

The article analyzes the methodological problems of studying the state of legal culture of the Russians on the basis of a civilization approach. The relevance of this research is determined by increased need for sociological reflection on a civilization identity of the Russian society and insufficient development of a methodology of studying the influence of civilization factors on legal culture of the Russians. The author, revealing the essence of the civilization approach and problematic nature of its conceptualization in sociology, justifies the possibility of incorporating the methodology of civilization research into sociology of culture. At the same time, the author argues to the need to supplement the use of civilization analysis by studying the process of constructing civilization narratives by society as a basis for the formation of civilization identity. The article shows the importance of differentiation between a subjective position set by a civilization narrative and an objective reality of processes of civilization development. Based on the study of methodological principles of civilization analysis, the author emphasizes the impossibility of isolated development outside of intra-civilization cross-influence and interaction.