the new russian nationalismIn order to consolidate such a national identity, Putin called for
a concerted effort involving various strands of society. The first
post- independence decade had represented a lost decade: ‘After
1991, there existed an illusion about a new national ideology...
that would simply appear all by itself’, he declared. However,
history had proven that ‘a new national idea does not simply
appear, nor does it develop according to market rules’ (Putin
2013a). Putin thus seemed to have abandoned his former stance
(as outlined in the Millennium Manifesto) on how to approach
this issue: while reiterating that a national idea cannot simply be
imposed from above, he now opened up for much more active
state involvement in the process.
Mechanically copying other countries’ experiences would be a
futile venture, however; the Russian national idea would have to
be firmly rooted in history and society. ‘Who are we?’ and ‘Who
do we want to be?’ These questions the Russians were asking
themselves ‘louder and louder’, Putin declared. The answer, he
continued, was to be found in a national identity that was civic
in nature, based on ‘shared values, a patriotic consciousness, civic
responsibility and solidarity, respect for the law, communion with
the fate of the Fatherland without losing touch with ethnic or
religious roots’ (Putin 2013a). But at the same time, no doubt
should remain about the (ethnic) Russian core of this state- centred
identity. The President repeated the now- customary homage to the
Russian people, Russian language and Russian culture: but now he
also underscored the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church.
That was in keeping with the new conservative, values- based
approach that had increasingly come to colour the world outlook
of the new presidency (Byzov 2014; Sharafutdinova 2014; see also
Putin 2013b). Putin’s 2012 state of the nation address had been
peppered with references to the importance of history, tradition and
family virtues – values Putin associated with his revamped vision of
the national community. In the Valdai speech, Putin lashed out
against the ‘excessive political correctness’ and multi- culturalism
that permeated Western societies, which, he said, led to a
rejection of their roots, including the Christian values that constitute
the basis of Western civilisation. [Many Euro- Atlantic states] are