The value of observing traditions and customs in modern Russia and some European countries

In the information open society, a fusion of cultures occurs, which influences changes in cultural, social, political, and economic practices. The nature of social development is changing under the influence of digitalization and globalization, which has an ambivalent impact on individuals, their worldview, and value system. The aim of the study was to analyze the dynamics of the level of agreement with the value orientation regarding the importance of observing the customs and traditions of ones culture from 2010 to 2023. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study included the concept of the risk society (W. Beck), the theory of personality development (E. Erikson), the anthroposociocultural approach (N.I. Lapin), and the concept of culture (V.S. Stepin). The empirical base of the study is represented by data from the all-Russian monitoring of the Center for the Study of Sociocultural Changes of the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences and data from the European Social Survey. The results of the analysis indicate that in modern Russia and in most European countries, the proportion of traditionally oriented citizens for whom it is important to observe the traditions and customs of their culture is gradually declining. A statistical analysis of Russian data revealed a correlation between selected sociodemographic characteristics and the shared value of honoring traditions and customs in Russian society. Thus, from 2010 to 2023, women, financially secure citizens, urban residents, and married individuals consistently dominated among Russians who valued observing traditions and customs. A statistical analysis of data for 16 selected European countries revealed that, during the same period, the importance of honoring traditions and customs gradually declined in most of the European countries analyzed. The author concludes that, to ensure the sustainable development of contemporary Russian society in the context of modern challenges, it is necessary to maintain a balance between the modern values of individualism and the traditional values of collectivism.