It is the main problems and contradictions related to political and civilizational self-identification of modern Russian society that are considered in the article. On the basis of analyzed data of sociological polls it is demonstrated that political identity of most citizens of Russia in recent years is blurred and uncertain. Left-centrist political orientations are relatively wide-spread, but at the same time, about two thirds of Russians are not supporters of any political parties. What is characteristic of Russians’ civilizational self-identification is domination of the ideas that Russia belongs neither to the West nor to the East, but is a country with a «special way» of development.