The influence of historical traditions on the formation of civil society in Russia

The specificity of a civil society formation in Russia predetermined by such historical traditions as a mentality, a special role of the state, the influence of Orthodoxy and legal nihilism is revealed. The authors have made a conclusion that today a conservative and liberal development pattern of civil society characterized by the synthesis of economic liberalism and spiritual and cultural conservatism is more preferable for Russia as a country that “catches up modernization”.