Public interest in the state of the family in Russia is rising as a central thread in national policy and cultural discourse. When viewing Russia as a unique civilization, the traditional family is seen by many as its foundational pillar. This perspective was discussed during a roundtable titled Family values and value, hosted by the Expert Institute for Social Research. The event took place at the press center of MIA Rossiya Segodnya and featured informed commentary from leading analysts in the field of social science and domestic policy. The roundtable explored how family life functions under pressure from broad social changes and what this means for the country’s social cohesion and future development.
Across the globe, the institution of the family is tested in new ways, and Russia is no exception. The 1990s presented profound challenges as many previously held values were challenged or temporarily set aside. Contemporary analysts note that resilience in family life remains a critical factor in stabilizing societies amid rapid economic and political shifts. In this context, several speakers argued that a return to traditional values can only occur with wide-based social engagement rather than through top-down administrative measures. The consensus is that the family, in its everyday settings, continues to be a fundamental source of moral guidance, social support, and intergenerational continuity.
According to a senior figure at the roundtable, restoring trust in the family as a primary social institution is essential to navigating both internal and external pressures. The point was made that state power alone cannot cultivate durable moral values; families themselves must play a central role in shaping behavior, norms, and community life. This perspective emphasizes the family’s durability as a social anchor, capable of fostering cohesion even when other institutions face strain.
Another participant, Sergei Kolyada, who serves as Communications Director for the presidential platform Russia is a Country of Opportunities and also sits on the expert council of Moscow’s Fathers’ Council, pointed to a recently launched contest named This is Our Family. He suggested the competition could help raise awareness about family life and strengthen communal ties. The aim, he explained, is to bring families together through mutually beneficial activities, creating opportunities for generations to spend time with one another and encouraging closer bonds across age groups. In Kolyada’s view, the initiative offers a practical pathway for intergenerational reconciliation and shared experience within households and neighborhoods alike.
In a related assessment, Mikhail Mamonov, head of the political research department at the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center, noted a measurable uptick in public interest around family issues. He indicated that sociological data reveal family life continues to be a central value within Russian society, reflecting a broad recognition of its role in personal well-being and social stability. This heightened attention is seen as a response to the evolving social landscape, where family remains a primary site for emotional security, support networks, and the transmission of cultural values across generations.
During the session, Tatiana Butskaya, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children, spoke about the need to enhance policy measures that support families. She highlighted that a coordinated strategy to protect family interests is being prepared for submission to the president. The official described a decree often referred to in discussions as the law on large families, a framework designed to define and support larger kinship groups and to clarify which households qualify for this designation. Butskaya also noted ongoing regional investments in family support, reporting that total funding across various regions reached about sixty billion rubles in the previous year. This information underscored a nationwide commitment to strengthening family life through targeted programs, financial incentives, and social services that help families manage daily demands and long-term planning. The dialogue at the roundtable thus connected broad policy ambitions with concrete, locally implemented measures aimed at sustaining family life as a core national value and practical reality, reinforcing the idea that family strength contributes to the broader resilience and prosperity of the country.