In the Kremlin, preparations are underway to institutionalize a “traditional values” policy, with plans to create a permanent interagency group to systematically promote this narrative within the Russian information space. Formally, the initiative is presented as an attempt to create a “family-oriented environment,” but the set of planned tools points to further strengthening of ideological control.
Starting March 1, 2026, a ban will take effect on the distribution of films that allegedly “discredit traditional values”: they will not receive distribution licenses, will be removed from major online platforms, and fines will be imposed for their dissemination. Simultaneously, from the 2026/2027 school year, a subject called “Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia” will be introduced in schools, while universities plan to conduct digital testing of students for compliance with the state’s ideological guidelines.
This formalization of “value-based” policy is part of a broader domestic political strategy: through a moral-ideological agenda, the authorities aim to consolidate society, increase loyalty to decision-making centers, and simultaneously strengthen control over the information environment. Shifting the focus from economic difficulties to cultural conflicts also reduces political risks for the Kremlin.
In the foreign policy dimension, institutionalizing this doctrine frames the war against Ukraine as a long-term civilizational confrontation with the West. This framing expands the authorities’ ability to justify high military expenditures, further restrictions on civil liberties, and the redistribution of resources in favor of security forces, making ideology a tool of governance in a context of prolonged confrontation.
