In this article, the author examines the variety of theoretical approaches to the concept of “civilizational identity” in Russian and foreign studies. Special attention is paid to the interpretation of the concept of “civilizational identity” by researchers from the countries of the Asia-Pacifi c region and the Middle East. This is important in the context of the deterioration of relations between Russia and Western countries and, as a result, the implementation of the “turn of Russia to the East” in the academic humanitarian environment, where one of the key places is occupied by the search for new grounds for analyzing the concept of “civilizational identity” based on cultural traditions and customs in the likeness of researchers ethnically representing the countries of the Global South. The result of this study is to develop, on the basis of the considered approaches, a generalized modern defi nition of the concept of “civilizational identity”, which is based on a set of principles and guidelines used by civilization to preserve its socio-cultural and political identity in world history. In addition, the author argues that within the current political conditions, this defi nition is fi xed in certain aspects in the documents of strategic planning of foreign  policy of individual countries (Russia, Turkey). Such documents should include the Concept of Russia’s Foreign Policy adopted in 2023, the Concept of Russia’s Humanitarian Policy Abroad in 2022, as well as a Brief overview of the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey and the political program of the Justice and Development Party, i.e. one of the leading political forces in Turkish politics.