The Institute of Contemporary Development held a round table discussion titled “Russia: The Values of a Modern Society” led by Dmitry Mezentsev, the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council. The participants included Metropolitan Kirill, Russia’s chief Rabbi Berl Lazar, Supreme Mufti Talgat Tajuddin, Khambo Lama Damba Ayusheev, the head of the Russian Roman Catholic Church Igor Kovalevsky, established scientists, famous politicians, leading top managers from various economic sectors and public figures.
 
The first speaker (Y. Pivovarov, an academician from the Russian Academy of Sciences and the director of the Academy’s Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences) analyzed the topic in its historical context, tracing the line of Russian political traditions from the past to the present. He noted that in the twentieth century, the system broke apart twice, a demographic problem appeared, high quality human resources were destroyed and extensive development came to an end. Despite all of the changes, Russia maintained a traditional political culture, the main features of which were the centralization of power, the violent nature of power, party discipline, dual governance structure and the principle of heredity or succession.
 
M. Gorshkov, an associate member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the director of its Sociology Institute, presented a sociological perspective on the issue. According to him, our country’s understanding of the word “democracy” differs from that of the West. Our countrymen consider a government to be democratic when it helps raise the standard of living for people and advances social opportunities. Here we can talk about divergent concepts but not divergent phenomena. Gorshkov cited data from sociological studies, which show that Russians assign great importance to family, work and friends; they assign less importance to politics and religion. The qualities that Russians value in children are hard work, a sense of responsibility, respect for others, tolerance, determination, perseverance, and a solicitous attitude toward money. Judging by the surveys, 56% of Russians think that they are unable to influence their lives, and 46% think that they themselves determine their life journeys. The majority of young people belong to the former group; this includes 71% of those between the ages of 17 and 25 and 59% of those between the ages of 26 and 35. On the other hand, many people between the ages of 46 and 65 believe that their lives offer them ample opportunities.
 
According to R. Grinberg, an associate member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the director of its Economics Institute, values determine the economy. Universal values become relevant in the face of danger. All more or less successful examples of modernization throughout history were carried out by heavy-handed rulers. A transition to a more democratic state brought about all sorts of losses: territorial, economic, etc. Russia differs from the Western European traditions in that the country’s modernization is possible only through violent means or by elements of coercion, but all of this eventually leads to an improvement in people’s lives, concluded Grinberg.
 
Metropolitan Kirill presented a different perspective on the situation, observing that no political, economic, or social transformation is possible without a strong spiritual basis in society. Since ancient times, a value has been that which has provided a benefit. Combining traditions and modernization will guarantee that our society will move forward. The universal spiritual values ingrained in Russian life are manifested in a rich religious tradition. Metropolitan Kirill did not agree with Mikhail Gorshkov’s statement that religion is not important to Russians. In his opinion, Russians place importance on faith, spiritual life, patriotism, creativity, responsibility, freedom, and work.
 
Supreme Mufti Talgat Tajuddin emphasized that it is necessary to start a transformation within oneself. One must respect oneself, and then others will also follow with respect. Our country’s authority and influence in the international arena has increased during the past 8-10 years. Today, Russia’s dignity is being restored, and this is very important.
 
From the Buddhist perspective, all material problems are unimportant; the most important value is the human being and consequently, the most pressing problem is the demographic one. The idea of debt is also significant; one does not live in isolation, and one must repay all debt to those who touched one’s life, Damba Ayusheev explained.
 
Berl Lazar, Russia’s chief rabbi, agreed with the Khambo Lama, emphasizing that each person’s values are important. “We often talk about politics and economics, forgetting that the most important element in all of this is the human being. There is something good in each person, completely evil people don’t exist, and the most important thing is to discover the potential of each person, as everyone is needed in society.”
 
Igor Kovalevsky, the head of the Russian Roman Catholic Church, defined the concept of values as an idea that every person has. Every person constructs his or her own hierarchy of values. And the kind of hierarchy that we have and the kind of benefits that we achieve is very important. In Christianity, the main value is God. Western European culture values a person’s identity and individual rights. As Russia is becoming a post-industrial society it values freedom and choice, but in this case the role of religion in a person’s life is also diminishing. Few people in Russia or Europe build their hierarchy of values according to religion. The Catholic Church has always viewed the world from a realistic perspective, since the world cannot be perfect.
 
Summarizing the round table discussion, A. Podberezkin, the research director at the Civil Society Institute, noted that a value system does not appear out of the blue but is formed consciously. The basic principles for the creation of a value system were all named: the combination of traditions and modernization, the construction of a pragmatic and realistic value system. The resolution of economic, political, social and other problems is only possible within a value system. During the period of economic stabilization it was possible to get by without a value system, but this was impossible during the transition to a forward-looking path to development.