Political culture of Russian society: conceptual aspect

Political challenges make further research into the political culture of the Russian society relevant, as well as the study of Russia's historical experience, which makes it possible to realize special mechanisms and models of sustainable and peaceful development, which is important for the renewal of forms of interaction between states at the present stage. The experience of Russian civilization convinces us that historical development is successful when the political course of a state coincides with the foundations of a national idea. The author shows that the Russian state was initially associated with the concept of the Fatherland as a broad social community of representatives of different cultures and religions. At the same time, in our national consciousness, the statehood was initially presented as a "strong power" capable of ensuring the country's security and independence. On the other hand, in the paradigm of the Russian national idea, "a strong state" is not so much a restrictor as a defender of freedom and a condition for the creative development of the nation. When, in the practice of state activity, there are deviations from the value orientations of the national idea, which are based on the statehood as the guarantor of security and justice, the stability, integrity and sovereignty of this state entity is in greater danger. Recognition of the perniciousness of the political course of the 1990th means recognition of the paramount importance of protecting the national sovereignty and strengthening the defense capability against the background of the people's active participation in the development of the country. This approach means a return to power as a traditional value of Russian political culture.