Macrosocial Identity in the North Caucasus in the Context of Contemporary Challenges: Comprehending Research Practices

Abstract

Macrosocial identity in the regional communities of the North Caucasus is characterized by contradictions and complexity of formation processes, which is largely due to the frontier nature of the region. Recently, in the context of a sharp aggravation of the geopolitical situation, the conduct of a special military operation, the problems of the integrity and unity of the North Caucasian society as an integral part of Russia have come to the fore, updating issues of identity. The purpose of the study is to clarify, basing on the secondary analysis of data from various studies and comparison of the results of research projects, the levels of formation of different types of macrosocial identity in regional societies and establish their correlation with social practice in the regions. The study revealed inconsistency of the final data obtained by different scientists. Consideration of the social practices accumulated in regional societies made it possible, to a certain extent, to correct the assessment of the levels of formation of types of macrosocial identity in relation to a specific region of the North Caucasus. A conclusion is made, about the mosaic structure of public consciousness of the North Caucasian community and contradictory social practices that have developed in regional society. It has been defined that, under the influence of both external and internal destructive forces, identification processes acquire a risky orientation from time to time. The analytical material may be of interest to scientific teams studying identification problems, as well as for media and various institutions interested in using positive identification practices, such as cultural and edifying, organizing educational work among the population of the North Caucasus region.

Keywords

• north caucasus
• regional communities
• macrosocial identity
• all-russian identity
• ethnic identity
• confessional identity
• methodological triangulation
• research practice