Russian Philanthrocapitalism

Abstract

This article investigates philanthropic practices among Russia’s super-rich. Based on interviews with multimillionaires and billionaires, it ponders whether and to what extent philanthrocapitalist concepts are compatible with traditional Russian approaches to elite philanthropy, which have been shaped and controlled by country’s strong state. Overall, consciously and unconsciously, Russian philanthropists have selectively adopted a number of philanthrocapitalist principles, while some of them merge them with beliefs molded by their Soviet past and their self-perception as belonging to the intelligentsia. Based on diverse and eclectic models, they have constructed distinct ideas about their lives and their role in Russian society. This acts as a lever to build up trust in the new social hierarchy and fashion a new generation of supposedly deserving upper-class youth.