Russian cultural policy and its blind spots

In the context of intensifying external informational pressure and internal debates surrounding values and ideologies in Russia, reconsidering the role of the state in shaping a coherent and strategically balanced cultural policy becomes especially significant. The challenge of ensuring the effective implementation of provisions outlined in key regulatory and conceptual documents is particularly acute. This article analyzes the economic, legal, managerial, and conceptual aspects of the cultural policy of the Russian Federation in the context of implementing the Fundamentals of State Cultural Policy and the Presidential Decree on the Protection of Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values. Existing studies, focused on isolated cases, fail to provide a comprehensive picture and do not allow for the development of a sustainable strategy to overcome the problems. The present work reveals the common axiological foundation of issues across all studied aspects. It demonstrates that the lack of a unified approach to managing the cultural sphere is caused by the conceptual underdevelopment of core values. The effectiveness of the axiological approach, which enables the clear determination of values and prevents arbitrary interpretations, is substantiated. Its application opens up opportunities for effective cultural governance, strengthening social resilience, and fostering a unified value system, thereby contributing to the reinforcement of Russia’s cultural sovereignty amid geopolitical instability.