Smirnov, A.I. (2026). Features of Social Identification of Military Pensioners. Vestnik of Moscow State Linguistic University. Social Sciences, 1(862), 97–105. (In Russ.)

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: http://www.vestnik-mslu.ru/Vest/1_862_S.pdf (дата обращения 27.04.2026)

Abstract

Using the data from the “Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey – Higher School of Economics” (RLMS-HSE) as a foundation, this article analyzes the structural features of military pensioners' identification preferences, compared with those of the most common category of pensioners receiving an old-age labor pension. The study focused on male pensioners in the analyzed categories. A high degree of stability in the configuration of group identifications was revealed among military pensioners, the majority of whom are retired officers with a high level of education and extensive professional and life experience. It was shown that military pensioners outperform oldage pensioners in both the prevalence and depth of generational and professional identifications, which constitute the basic component of their identification structure. At the same time, a high degree of similarity was observed in the distribution of most group identifications, both those close to the core complex (national, local settlement, income) and those on the periphery (compatriot, religious, civic). The only exception is the clearly visible prevalence of military retirees in the depth and breadth of their identification, formed on the basis of shared political views. When defining themselves socially, most military retirees identify with groups that are highly respected in society but occupy a middle ground in terms of material well-being and power. Among former military personnel, there is no profound differentiation in values and ideological perspectives. The material and status differentiation of military retirees does not disrupt their traditional mental commonality, which must be taken into account when developing measures to optimize the adaptation of former military personnel to civilian life and more effectively utilize their accumulated personal resources.