Generalized Trust and Feelings for Russia as Components of the All-Russian Identity

Abstract

The article, based on the All-Russian representative sociological survey of 2020, examines generalized trust and feelings towards Russia as active components of the emerging All-Russian identity. The article discusses the relationship between generalized trust and the emotional component of AllRussian identity. It is concluded that generalized trust (trust in people in general) can be considered as a natural prerequisite for national consolidation, since generalized trust takes an active part in the formation of the all-Russian identity and attitudes of interethnic tolerance. The negative dynamics (in the period 2015–2020) of positive feelings towards Russia, provoked in 2020 by the risks of public and personal safety in the context of the spread of COVID-19, was revealed. The study shows that positive feelings about one’s own country play a significant role in the formation of All-Russian identity. Despite its lability and elusiveness, the emotional component of All-Russian identity has sufficient power to influence the processes of national consolidation.

Keywords

• generalized trust
• emotions
• feelings towards russia
• all-russian identity
• interethnic tolerance