Кавказология (Jun 2019)
DEMOGRAPHIC MODERNIZATION OF KABARDIN-BALKARIA: HISTORY AND NOWADAYS PROBLEMS
Abstract
The paper’s aim is to outline general parameters of demographic evolution, current demographic situation and ethno-demographic specifics of Kabardin-Balkar Republic, which reflect the outcomes as well as the limits of modernization process during the 20th century and set the socio-demographic format of the region’s development for the near future. For the last century Kabardin-Balkar population increased fourfold and revolutionary changes occurred in its socio-demographic image. Socio-cultural modernization was based on outpacing dynamics of industrialization, urbanization and population’s education rates growth and it was accompanied by the demographic transition. There is a model of population reproduction in the republic now, which is characterized with low birthrate and low death rate. Natural population growth sustains yet but it is almost wholly offset by population decline caused by migration. Population growth and massive influx of new generations into the workforce cannot be more the main source of development. Meanwhile since the 1990s the trend of deep de-industrialization became visible that leads to the erosion of industrial socio-professional cluster where the Russian population dominated. Stagnation of urbanization process and manifestations of de-modernization in population’s socio-professional structure enhanced the significance of archaic in their origin factors of structuring society along the lines of ethnic groups, boundaries. As a whole an inversion of the kind took place in interrelation between the general and the socio-demographic development. Within the Soviet period the development “came into” Kabardin-Balkaria. It brought with itself or formed in the local population a contingent bearing general and professional culture necessary for functioning of the development institutions. Nowadays in the condition of socio-economic stagnation in the republic the outer centers of development would pull out not mere surplus workforce but – more importantly – the bearers of modern professional competencies depleting the demographic base of Kabardin-Balkaria’s development.
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