G. S. Denisova, E. A. Avdeevb, S. M. Vorobev. Conflict-Generating Risks of the Ethnocultural Foundations of the Student Youth Identity: The Case of the Frontier North Caucasus Region

doi: 10.15507/2413-1407.127.032.202402.198-216

UDK 39-048.93-057.875(470.62/.67)

Abstract

Introduction. In multi-ethnic regions, which include the North Caucasus and the South of Russia in general, reducing the risks of identity conflict, in particular the conflictogenic potential of ethnic identity, is one of the priority tasks of public administration. The object of this policy, first of all, is the youth of the region, from whose ranks the activists of protest movements are recruited. This situation requires monitoring the social well-being of young people in the context of the combination of all-Russian and ethno-confessional identity. The aim of the study is to identify conflictogenic risks arising in the process of sociocultural interaction in multi-ethnic youth communities of border regions.

Materials and Methods. The empirical basis of the research state of social identity of youth in the North Caucasus was the results of surveys conducted by the authors in March – April 2022 and 2023 among students of regional universities. It was assumed that the aggravation of the geopolitical situation and a special military operation acted as a trigger for the transformation of the social identity of youth, which has a different trajectory for groups of youth representing the peoples of the North Caucasus and Russians living in the region. An emotional assessment of closeness with communities of different taxonomic series made it possible to establish the significance of all-Russian identity in comparison with ethnic, regional and confessional ones.

Results. A comparative analysis of the collected material indicates that the most significant consolidating values and symbols that unite the youth of the region are the common state and state symbols. By choosing these values, as well as the values of Russian culture and the general historical past, young people who consider themselves to be the peoples of the North Caucasus have come closer to the value profile of Russian youth in the region. In the consciousness of Russian youth, there is a growth in sociocultural values, the significance of which in their ideas has approached all-Russian civil and political values. There continues to be a trend aimed at sociocultural integration and erasing ethnocultural differences among the youth of the groups under consideration.

Discussion and Conclusion. All-Russian and ethnic identities among young people living in the region are complementary, not competitive. The challenges the country faces are viewed by them as personal and socially significant. This trend is becoming a significant factor that reduces the conflict-generating risks of ethnocultural foundations of identity in youth communities of the North Caucasus. Scientific results will contribute to the understanding of sociocultural threats and risks of conflict in multiethnic youth communities of frontier regions, and will be useful to the scientific community and government authorities.

Keywords: multi-ethnic regions, North Caucasus, Russian youth, all-Russian identity, ethnicity, ethnocultural interaction, conflict risks

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study is supported by Russian Science Foundation. Project No. № 23-28-00237 “Risks of Conflict in the Transformation of the Socio-Cultural Foundations of the North Caucasus Young People’s Identity”.

For citation: Denisova G.S., Avdeev E.A., Vorobev S.M. Conflict-Generating Risks of the Ethnocultural Foundations of the Student Youth Identity: The Case of the Frontier North Caucasus Region. Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2024;32(2):198–216. https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.127.032.202402.198-216

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About the authors:

Galina S. Denisova, Dr.Sci. (Sociol.), Professor, Professor of the Chair of Russian History of the 20th‒21st Centuries of the Southern Federal University (105/42 Bolshaya Sadovaya St., Rostov-on-Don 344006, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3671-9602, Researcher ID: M-1548-2016, Scopus ID: 7006195531, dgsrostov2013@gmail.com

Evgeniy A. Avdeev, Cand.Sci. (Philos.), Associate Professor of the Chair of Philosophy and Ethnology, North Caucasus Federal University (1 Pushkin St., Stavropol 355017, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4004-9610, Researcher ID: ABA-9634-2021, Scopus ID: 57217380810, ewg.avdeev@yandex.ru

Sergey M. Vorobev, Cand.Sci. (Polit.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Chair of Philosophy and Ethnology of the North Caucasus Federal University (1 Pushkin St., Stavropol 355017, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8893-2595, Researcher ID: ABB-4151-2021, Scopus ID: 57217390630, sergey_vorobev_54@mail.ru

Contribution of the authors:

G. S. Denisova – analysis of the results of sociological research; analysis of domestic studies of ethnocultural conflict; analysis of conflict-generating risks of the ethnocultural foundations of the identity of youth in the region; critical analysis and revision of the text.

E. A. Avdeev – development of the concept of the article; analysis of the results of sociological research; analysis of foreign studies of ethnocultural conflict; analysis of conflict-generating risks of the ethnocultural foundations of the identity of youth in the region; revision of the text.

S. M. Vorobev – finalization of the article concept; analysis of the results of sociological research; analysis of conflict-generating risks of the ethnocultural foundations of the identity of youth in the region; critical analysis and revision of the text.

Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 11.11.2023; revised 22.02.2024; accepted 05.03.2024.