Ethnic Personality in the Context of Traditional Ossetian Culture

Abstract

The article is a historical and ethnological analysis of the ethnocultural phenomenon “ethnic personality”, which is important, but still remains without due attention of ethnologists, and continues the author’s research on this issue based on the material of the Ossetian ethnos. On the basis of ethnographic sources and using a historical and retrospective approach, personal ideals are investigated, the determinants of the formation of their basic qualities and characteristics of the Ossetian ethnic group in the traditional period are revealed. The research is aimed at a substantive analysis of those criteria of the phenomenon of “ethnic personality”, which, being characteristic of traditional society, to one degree or another have retained their relevance for modern young Ossetians. They were identified in advance through a survey conducted by the author among students. In particular, the high importance of communication programs related to the inter-age hierarchy and male subculture was revealed. They became the subject of the analysis of this study. The ethnic personality is considered as the main representative of the traditional “Ossetian order” - a very significant component of the intangible cultural heritage of this people. The study of which is extremely important for the search for the most relevant, viable forms of folk culture. Forms that are not only preserved in the modernization processes of Ossetian ethnoculture, but also do not lose their sufficiently powerful identification resources. The author comes to the conclusion that by studying the essence of the phenomenon of “ethnic personality” by broad scientific means, researchers get a unique opportunity for more accurate ethnic forecasting, which is extremely important in a multi-ethnic state. Including in the light of the prospects for the formation of an all-Russian identity.