Traditional Values and the Challenges of Postmodernism: An Axiological Conflict in the Context of Russia's National Security

Aim. To study the axiological conflict between traditional Russian values and the philosophy of postmodernism as a factor affecting Russia's national security in the context of contemporary international relations.

Methodology. An interdisciplinary analysis was conducted, based on a synthesis of the theoretical approaches of securitization theory (the Copenhagen School) and the civilizational approach. A content analysis was carried out of official documents (the National Security Strategy, the Foundations of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values), academic literature, and sociological data to identify the key lines of value confrontation. Comparative political and geopolitical methods were employed to reveal the international dimension of the conflict.

Results. The main lines of the axiological conflict have been identified and systematized: collectivism versus radical individualism; stable identity versus «fluid» identity; the traditional family versus the relativization of family values; labor as a calling versus instrumental self-fulfillment; the primacy of the spiritual versus the dictates of the material; historical memory versus the deconstruction of history. It has been proven that in modern political discourse, traditional values have undergone a process of securitization – that is, they are presented as an object of an existential threat emanating from postmodern ideological expansion and possessing a pronounced foreign policy dimension. It is revealed that Russia in its foreign policy positions itself as a state-civilization that defends traditional values on the international stage, and this stance resonates with conservative forces in Western countries. It is substantiated that the protection of traditional values is becoming a strategic imperative for ensuring the cultural and value sovereignty of the Russian Federation.

Research implications. The theoretical significance lies in the conceptualization of value sovereignty as a multi-level system (encompassing the semantic, axiological, and communicative levels), thereby expanding the theoretical framework of national security and international relations research. The findings of the article can be applied in the development of educational programs and strategies in the field of youth policy and the strengthening of a common Russian civic identity, as well as for building international ties with conservative political forces abroad.

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