Modernization or development: traditional basis of the progress in Russia

The article considers the special features of Russian modernization in the context of the values of Russian and Soviet professionals. The concept of value is determined as ideal goals and principles. Sociological retrospective analysis of the development of medicine and engineering in Russia shows that Russian archaic tradition contains the elements that could serve as value foundation for the linear progress, for example the phenomenon of invention that existed in the non-market environment of the feudal, agricultural country and provincial origin of Russian professionals. During the history of Russian reforms and Soviet industrialization, there were values of workmanship and freedom of professional action. The analysis shows close interrelation of professional and civil values (conscience, responsibility, decency, justice, etc.). Traditional values were changing during industrial development and continue changing now, but there are the limits of such a change. Russian professionals resist the innovation if it sufficiently restricts the freedom of action, eliminates above civil values, formalize human relations. The analysis shows also that traditional values of Russian modernization can block the innovations that could be obstacles for real progress in the complicated and diverse context of the big country.