Alexei Chesnakov: the Motherland begins with family and philosophical thought

Everyone has their own answer to the question "What Does the Motherland Begin With?". For Alexei Chesnakov, Head of the Academic Council of the Centre for Political Current Affairs, Professor at HSE University and Candidate of Political Sciences, there are several answers, including not only personal ones but also those that are universal.

"For me, the Motherland begins with my mother. With my children. I think that is the most important thing, because Russia is, as people now say, a family of families," Alexei Chesnakov told the Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA.

Alexei Chesnakov added that the Motherland also begins with Russian philosophy, without which any "beginning" would remain merely an image from childhood: "It is necessary to understand the past, present and future of your country. In this sense, it seems to me that Russian philosophy is also part of what our Motherland begins with. Because the great thinkers of the past allow us to understand what we actually live for."

The All-Russian project "What Does the Motherland Begin With?", aimed at strengthening people's sense of unity with their country, is being implemented by the National Centre RUSSIA with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The first stage of the project was a survey that has already attracted more than 700 participants from 71 Russian regions and other countries. People can share where their love for the Motherland begins in the form of a comment or video on the russia.ru website.