Patriotism in the structure of civil identity of modern Russian generations

The study discusses patriotism as an element of civil identity. This phenomenon is considered through the prism of the Strauss-Howe generational theory modified by the Russian scientist E. Shamis. The paper presents the results of the sociological survey conducted in Astrakhan region. Based on the research findings, the author analyzes four main generations of modern Russian society: Silent Generation (born in 1924-1943), Baby Boomers (born in 1944-1963), Generation X (born in 1964-1983), and Generation Y (born in 1984-2000). The research elaborates on civil identification, patriotic values, political views, and electoral behavior of each generation. Their common and distinctive features are revealed as well. The study identifies that patriotism is the pivotal element in the structure of civil identity.