The role of political institutions and practices in the formation of national political identity in Russia

The article studies the national political identity in Russia and the role of political institutions and practices in its formation. The author comes to the conclusion that the political identity is above ethnic, its carriers are not representatives of various ethnic groups, communities, etc., but first and foremost - the citizens. People become citizens through the practice of participation in social and political life of the country, in determining the course of government reforms and transformations. When people are deprived of this practice, the nation degenerates as a civil and political community. Accordingly, the maintenance of civic activity and encouragement of civic initiatives is an important step towards building a national political identity.