Value-Normative Conflicts of Humanization in Attitudes toward Animals in Russia

Introduction. The relevance of studying the humanization of animal rights in contemporary Russia is determined by the influence of global trends and the societal need to strengthen and promote traditional values in Russian society. Their importance over the past decade has been demonstrated by the public agenda, the growth of social activism, and regulatory developments at the federal and regional levels.

Methodology and sources. Documents from federal and regional government bodies of the Russian Federation (Federal Law No. 498, Presidential Decree No. 809), survey results from the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (2019–2024), and data from non-profit organizations and marketing research organizations were used, along with content and discourse analysis of media and social media. Publications by Russian sociologists were considered. A sociocultural approach was used to identify the connections between institutional changes and the dynamics of social perceptions of humanism. The explanatory potential of critical moral sociology was utilized.

Results and discussion. This article critically examines indicators and indices of humane treatment of animals developed in Russian sociology and social psychology. It analyzes contradictions in the institutionalization of attitudes toward companion animals, stray animals, and the animal rights movement. A key question for achieving public consensus is formulated: which environmental and subjective indicators can and should be identified and enshrined as norms regulating animal care in human society, and which technically accessible and socio-psychologically acceptable oversight tools can be applied in this area. A categorical analysis of value-normative conflicts is proposed, distinguishing between ideological, normative, and innovative conflicts, and outlining possible ways to regulate them. The article substantiates the conclusion that consensus on the content of “humane treatment of animals” has not been reached; its institutionalization is not complete, but it has already become, in social perceptions, an element of traditional values in Russian society.

Conclusion. Increased involvement of elites, scientists, religious thinkers, social activists, and citizens in the discourse on humane treatment of animals is predicted.

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