Since the 1960s, a group of Russian thinkers and politicians has developed a unique ideology known as "modernizing conservatism." This approach combines traditional values, such as religious and cultural heritage, with technological progress, all aimed at supporting an authoritarian and imperialist state. This movement has grown not only through the spread of its ideas but also by organizing itself into networks and leveraging the controlled ideological diversity within Russia. Juliette Faure, a political science professor at the Free University of Brussels, explores the development of this ideology in her book Russian Hawks: Ideologues in Service of the Empire, published by the Presses universitaires de France. Modernizing conservatism is not a single, unified doctrine but rather a shared language that brings together various groups and generations who reject Western influence and position themselves in the political landscape. This ideology became especially prominent at the end of the Soviet Union, when it served as an identity for a group of intellectuals and officials who opposed liberal reforms. These individuals, often nostalgic for the Tsarist era, were active in anti-reform movements, from publishing manifestos to participating in the 1991 coup against Mikhail Gorbachev. As Russia transitioned from the Soviet era, this ideology continued to shape the identity of a new generation of thinkers known as the "Young Conservatives." Emerging in the early 2000s, they criticized Western dominance and Russia's integration into the global economy. Despite their ideological diversity—ranging from Orthodox imperialism to secular nationalism—they shared a common goal: to challenge the influence of liberal groups in the media and public policy. These intellectuals, many trained in the social sciences, began contributing to online media and became influential public figures, transforming the heritage of their predecessors into a more structured ideology called "dynamic conservatism." The creation of the Izborsk Club in 2012 marked a significant step in consolidating this ideological movement. Bringing together different generations of intellectuals, the club became an institutionalized network promoting the idea of Russia's return as a great imperial power through confrontation with the West. While the Russian government does not officially endorse a single ideology, it has increasingly supported various ideological groups through funding and institutional recognition. This approach allows for a controlled pluralism, where different ideas compete under the regime’s oversight. Despite this support, the influence of these ideological groups has fluctuated over time. While they have become a central reference for justifying political decisions, their relationship with the ruling elite has not been consistent. In recent years, particularly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, these groups experienced a decline in influence, as seen in the reduced funding and access to decision-making centers. However, the 2022 invasion of Ukraine marked a turning point, reinvigorating imperialist and anti-Western themes that had long been part of the Izborsk Club’s ideology. Even as authoritarian control has tightened, the intellectual landscape remains divided. While some groups support the war and the regime’s ideology, others, now based abroad, continue to critique the ideological foundations of the Russian state. This ongoing polarization shows that while the regime may rely on ideological entrepreneurs, it does not fully centralize or unify its ideological apparatus, maintaining a dynamic and competitive intellectual environment.