Why Putin is Not a Conservative: The Destruction of Integrity

The paper conducts a philosophical-political analysis of Vladimir Putin’s regime through the lens of Roger Scruton’s theory of conservatism. The author aims to examine whether the self-identification of “Putinism” meets the criteria of genuine conservatism—that “preservative” mode of thought which, according to Scruton, places moral integrity, cultural continuity, and concern for heritage at its center. Drawing on Scruton’s writings and historical-political material on post-Soviet Russia, the author concludes that Putin’s policies undermine the “shared heritage”—the linguistic, cultural, and social bonds between peoples—thereby depriving conservative rhetoric of authentic substance. While the regime proclaims the defense of “traditional values,” in practice it enacts militarization and violence, which contradict Scruton’s criteria for the preservation and creative continuation of tradition. • • • The text is an analytical essay based on a semantic interpretation of philosophical categories and the historical-political context; the author’s version is presented prior to editorial revision. Readers are advised to verify citations and references against the indicated publication and to treat the manuscript as the author’s original version of the study. • • • Key Concepts and Main Theses Key Concepts: Conservatism (in the understanding of Roger Scruton, How to Be a Conservative), integrity / heritage (integrity, shared heritage), “Russkiy Mir,” elites / pseudo-elites, political culture of service. Main Theses: 1. Putin’s rhetoric of “traditionalism” does not align with Scruton’s philosophical conservatism: external symbols of tradition replace internal moral integrity. 2. Military actions and expansion have destroyed the cultural-historical connection between Russia and Ukraine, demonstrating the destruction of a shared heritage rather than its preservation. 3. The regime’s policies contribute to the marginalization of creative and philosophical elites and the strengthening of pseudo-elites oriented toward personal gain and clan loyalty. 4. True conservatism (in the understanding of Roger Scruton, How to Be a Conservative) is the creative preservation of tradition. And Putin’s attempts to “protect” family and values through legislative repression and violence ultimately destroy the very possibility of preserving tradition.