Formation of religious (Islamic) structures of civil society in the North Caucasus in the XX–XXI centuries on the example of the Republic of Dagestan

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of formation and development of religious structures of civil society in the North Caucasus. The end of the twentieth century brought a rapid surge of religiosity to the region, there was a rapid Re-Islamization of people, various numerous religious organizations began to appear, between which there was a struggle for influence over the consciousness of the population. Religious Muslim organizations are the dominant (in terms of influence and numerical composition) institution of civil society. Only in Dagestan, the number of registered organizations is almost two and a half thousand. In addition to the registered organizations, there are informal Sufi communities, Salafist groups and communities in the republics. Therefore, the question of the existence of civil society in non-classical conditions, and even more so in the Muslim environment, has recently become more relevant and it is important to trace its specifics and dynamics of development in the region, in the context of the increasing activity of civil society structures of an Islamic nature and the peculiarities of their practical manifestation (Islamic councils, organizations, network communities, etc.). We use the results obtained by the author in the course of sociological research in the Republic of Dagestan, as well as the results of research by scientists and sociologists from Dagestan, which show that religious organizations actively work in the social sphere, influence the moods and behavior of believers, and also act as driving forces of change in different types of societies. Their activity, role in political transformations, and opportunities for mobilization require expanding the concept of civil society in relation to non-Western societies, especially Islamic ones, where there is a very controversial environment and conditions that differ from the classical ones. Islamic organizations, as structures of civil society, have their own potential, they use modern tools, forms and achievements, and at the same time they are based on the principles of justice, mutual assistance, charity (zakat, “waqf” (donations), consultation, and civic engagement.