State-Legal Construction of Identity: Russian Model in the Context of Geopolitical Transformation

Introduction. The adoption of the Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No. 809 of November 9, 2022, and Federal Law No. 74-FZ of April 21, 2025 has enshrined the traditional values and marked a new stage in the state policy of the Russian Federation requiring a scholarly legal analysis. In the current context of civilizational upheaval and changing geopolitical realities in the post-Crimean period, there arises an acute need to reconsider identity through the prism of historical continuity, cultural sovereignty and the etatistic model of patriotism. This has fostered a systemic transformation of the value-normative principles of public consciousness towards institutionalizing patriotism, prioritizing national interests and consolidating around the traditional spiritual and moral benchmarks. The aim of the study is to determine the functional role of the current Russian legal system in ensuring the sustainability of the national model of development through the legal structuring of civic identity in the context of geopolitical transformation.

Materials and Methods. The empirical study was based on the regulatory documents of the Russian Federation (the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Federal Laws, Executive Orders of the President of the Russian Federation, departmental regulations, etc.) and scientific publications. The methodology of research included a combination of general and specific scientific methods.

Results. It has been established that the formation of modern Russian identity is driven by a combination of exogenous and endogenous factors: intensification of global geopolitical competition and changes in the international system, as well as the consequences of the socioeconomic and value crises of the 1990s. Traditional values were institutionally enshrined by adoption of the Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No. 809 of November 9, 2022 “On Approving the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values” that had legitimized them as the foundation of state policy consistent with the process of constructing civic identity. The research revealed that modern Russian identity is built within the etatistic model of patriotism that integrates historical memory and cultural traditions. The main outstanding challenges are: maintaining a balance between the inclusive civic and ethnocultural identities, and overcoming post-Soviet value pluralism. The success of civilizational consolidation depends on the ability of the state to integrate diverse elements of political culture into a single system of national meanings. 

Discussion and Conclusion. The theoretical and practical conclusions drawn by the authors can be used for further research into constitutional and legal mechanisms of ensuring a balance between civic, ethnocultural and regional identities within the federal structure of the Russian Federation. The research findings can also be useful in developing criteria and indicators for monitoring the efficiency of legal and public governance decisions aimed at strengthening civic identity and patriotic consciousness.

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