Tendencies in Civic Education in Russia: The Perception of Patriotism among Secondary School Teachers

Abstract

This paper discusses the ongoing patriotic education campaign in Russia and how school practitioners interpret patriotism and patriotic education. Patriotism is interpreted in Russia through the terms that span across the whole political and ideological spectrum from almost extreme left to extreme right and accurately reflects the existing dichotomy deeply enrooted in Russian culture and mentality. In this study, more than 300 Russia’s teachers participated in the survey about the elements of patriotic education (return rate – 77%). The author argues that despite a strong tendency to rationalize patriotism in political and educational discourses through traditionalistic and militaristic frameworks, teachers’ opinions about patriotism and patriotic education are more nuanced and pragmatic.