Субкультури населення українського Приазов’я: від минулого до сьогоденя

Abstract

The sub-culture of the Ukrainian Azov region comprises certain subcultures of the corresponding social or demographic group as well as ethno-national entities, which is a peculiar and specific way of differentiating the culture in which, along with the main classical tendency, there are particular ethno-national cultural entities, which in form and in content differ from the leading cultural tradition, being at the same time its direct genetic extension. They are represented not only by their subjective attachments to certain social groups and cultural entities but also due to their birth and residence on a particular territory, their belonging to a certain national or ethnic community, the use of a particular language, adherence to certain traditions, customs, behavioral norms and so on. Thus, the population of the Ukrainian Azov region creates a rather colorful mosaic that is distinguished by certain features. This demonstrates the relevance of the chosen research topic. According to the sociological research conducted by the author, the subculture of the Ukrainian Azov region population has its own peculiarities. As a rule, it is an integrated segment of the titular culture of the Ukrainian society, but it differs significantly from the culture of communities in other regions of Ukraine. The specific way of ethno-national cultures differentiation has revealed itself within the region’s society, influenced the changes within the dominant culture, created a special form of organization of people, defined a set of norms and values, which in one way or another are opposed to the dominant traditional culture being interpreted as “alien, negative, the one which breaks its integrity.” The sub-culture of the Azov region has acquired these characteristics under the influence of many factors, including multiculturalism. It is wrong to state that all the 104 nationalities and ethnic groups inhabiting this territory have a significant impact on the specific character of the subculture because their influences are not identical. The largest ethno-national groups are Ukrainians, Russians, Greeks, Belarussians, Armenians, Jews, Bulgarians, others acount for groups of hundreds, dozens and fewer. The research has also proven that the population of the Azov region has been Russianized, though most of the Ukrainians surveyed consider their culture dominant. It can be said that the region is now experiencing an “ethnic renaissance”. But its manifestation is not clearly demonstrated. The studies show that there is no such thing as a “pure” language or culture in the region today. Here is the blend of the three largest ethnic groups: Russian, Ukrainian and Greek, which created its own specific subculture, resulting in the emergence of the “Azov region type” of society in the territory of the modern Azov region.