According to the latest opinion polls of VTsIOM, Russians understand patriotism as love for the Motherland and pride in it. Shame for their country has left the public consciousness. "People are not ready to be ashamed of their country. Those who are ashamed,, as a rule, take a very fast next step and move to a different cultural, economic, geographical space. Fortunately, it is simple. But in the understanding of the majority, patriotism is the belief that Russia is a strong, independent state. Plus, the conviction that we are able to determine how we should live here, and no one can impose their example and model on us," the Director General of VTsIOM Valery Fyodorov says.
Sociologists believe that patriotism has established itself in Russia as a state ideology.
According to Deputy Minister of Education and Science Veniamin Kaganov, "Particular attention has been paid to the issues of patriotism and patriotic education in recent times... The situation in the world is quite complicated and it makes all countries, all nations look again at the question of their identities, their positions in the world.
The Ministry of Education believes that a civic education is not only a love of the Motherland, an inculcation of love for the Motherland and pride in it, but also it is a raising of aspirations and capabilities, the ability to be useful to society in everyone’s own way, to his city, his region, his country.
"Patriotism, in my opinion, is an active feeling, this is not about sitting and loving the Motherland, it is being ready to do something, sometimes willing to sacrifice something for the sake of it. This is very important, and this is how young people manifest themselves. This applies to everything that happened in the course of preparations and holding of the Olympic Games in Sochi and other sports events. Moreover, not only our athletes have shown a high level, indeed responsibility and patriotism, they were also responsible towards their country and their homeland, their fans, but also the volunteers, whose activities were mentioned by everyone. The guys and girls who prepared and did all that was possible from their side, and managed to do it perfectly. In my opinion, this is a very real and normal expression of patriotic feelings," Kaganov believes.
As another example of the manifestation of patriotism among the youth, he pointed out the event 'Immortal Regiment', dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the victory: "The biggest part of it, of course, were young people, children, who together with the older generation expressed their solidarity and memory. And in our practical work in the Ministry of Education and Science we constantly feel the ever-increasing tone not only in the application of some things, but also in the competition ‘My country – my Russia’, an increasing amount of those who dedicate their creativity, their art to the beloved nature, to their native country in the Year of Literature. A huge number of events, millions of children, young people are involved, and they are not forced, they say what they think, write what they think, draw what they think. And these ideas are also connected with the country and the place in our country."
"The operating program of patriotic education is being completed in 2015. Now there is a coordination of the new program for the period from 2016 to 2020. In contrast to the last, more institutions are involved in ceasing it, we are working very closely with almost everyone, including the Ministry of Defence. A key role is played here, of course, by the Russian youth structure, which aims to work with young people. MOE, many others. A special role in the work is played not only by such public organizations as DOSAAF, as ‘Dynamo’, but also such as the ‘Russian Union of Youth’ and many other social organizations, associations that unite search parties, and so on. A lot depends on how this work is done in the regions, indeed. And attention is given to the leadership of the region, of course, it largely determines the attitude that exists. "
