The article considers the social justice as one of the fundamental values of modern Russian society. It is stressed that justice in Russian history is one of the most significant motivators to essentially civil action due primarily to a sociocultural specificity of Russia where the controlling exposure historically in the absolute majority of cases was based on the appeal to the values of justice and not to the law, which is not typical for Western culture. It is noted that social justice is a value, i.e. a reality of social and individual life. Social justice as a value includes a gnoseological, regulatory, measurement and ideal components. Being at the most critical crossover point between individual and public interests, it is a historically and culturally acceptable measure of equality and liberty of individuals. Based on data of sociological surveys, the authors analyzed the insights of Russian people into social justice. It is determined that it is justice that in modern social and cultural environment can act as a national idea, which consolidates a society, and which scientists and politicians have been discussing for a long time. However, it is proved that in modern Russian socio-economic and sociocultural conditions there is a rather strong discrepancy between the normative value of the value of justice in the minds of the population and its willingness to fight for this justice. High importance of justice solely as a terminal, rather than instrumental value, does not allow most citizens to formulate a rational responsibility requirement with regard to authorities.