Irina Khali

The article based on a research conducted in 9 regions of European part of Russia in 2013–2015 considered the attitude of local citizens to the city in which they live (regional capitals and small towns). The theoretical approaches to the analysis of Western sociology of patriotism as a social phenomenon and the possibility of their application to the study of Russian reality are analyzed. This analysis demonstrates that the patriotism of the Russian society has developed over the centuries and is the only possible (in relation to the homeland) traditional value orientation till now. Conditions for its withering away are obviously not formed, but the attempts of their formation are already visible. Three types of relationships to the Motherland are revealed: unconditional patriotism, transformative love, indifferent attitude. The author presents the reasons for the erosion of the value of patriotism in the conditions of global processes. The article shows the specificity of the attitude to the Motherland of local residents in small towns, which based on their full involvement in the functioning of local community.