Militarism and Patriotism in Russia

Patriotism is a much-celebrated tool in Russia. It is used to mobilize the population in support of the state in general and of the armed forces more specifically. Behind this lies the concept of militarism – a view of “war and the preparation for war as a normal and desirable social activity”. Many observers see a more heavily militarized Russia, where “war and the preparation for war” is a still more prominent feature of everyday life. Patriotism may be thought of as the socializing force leading to a greater acceptance of militarism.

Using official Russian strategies, opinion polls and opinion pieces from military journals, this study presents a picture of the current state of militarism and patriotism in Russia. The large national strategies for patriotic upbringing are widely presented as successes, but it is clear from policy debates and opinion pieces that, at least according to politicians and senior military officials, much is still needed.

The conclusion is that Russia is moving in the direction of many Western states: War is very much supported – under the right circumstances at least – but the actual fighting should be done by someone else. We find important sociological reasons behind this (for instance a growing individualism), but this development is also fueled by a military imperative, whereby war is becoming more complex and technically demanding.