The problem of civilizational choice is one of the most timely and relevant problems of the entire postcommunist world. Most of the states of the former Soviet Union, including Russia, still find themselves in an uncertain zone of transition. The crisis of civilizational identity, far from being overcome, has even deepened as the Soviet past recedes. The Russian identity in post-Soviet conditions is ambiguous, and a new identity is still not formed. Data from the southern regions show that religion and ethnicity are more powerful sources of identity than being a citizen of Russia. (Contains 5 figures and 3 tables.)