Abstract: The goal of this research is the analysis of perception of the idea of patriotism as a social value (and its level of relevance) in public consciousness of the Russians representing different generation groups. The factual basis of the analysis contains the data obtained from sociological survey “Fathers and Sons: the conflict and relationship, continuity of generations”, arranged and implemented by L. G. Lebedeva in 2017. The object of research became the 438 respondents in Samara and Samara Region that represented various generation groups aged 18 and older – 46.1% males and 53.9% females. An important peculiarity of the targeted age groups of the respondents, selected for the questionnaire-based survey, is that they were chosen in accordance with the socio-historical factors that effected their entry into adulthood (at approximately 17-18 years of age). Among the qualities included into the term of “patriotism”, the respondents name the rational-abstract in its nature quality of “loving your Motherland”, along with the emotional-sensible qualities such as “pride for the Motherland”, “love for your city, town or home”; next come the practical qualities such as “civic activism”, “defense of the Motherland; lastly is the moral-ethical quality “sense of a citizen”. The problems constraining the civic activism (such as practical manifestation of patriotism) require attention, studying, and consideration in social policy of the state, as well as public awareness.