Multicultural Regions Of Russia Research Articles

Адаптация культурно-образовательной деятельности музея для незрячих и слабовидящих посетителей

The purpose of the article is to identify the methodology of adaptation of cultural and educational programs for blind and visually impaired children. Socialization and inculturation of children with disabilities is especially important, today various socio-cultural institutions are taking steps in this direction, museums are working to update the heritage. However, little attention is paid to the ethnocultural heritage. While it is important to present this layer of heritage, especially in the multicultural regions of Russia. It is necessary to develop a methodology for the representation of ethnic heritage within the framework of cultural and educational programs. It is established that such programs should be based on the principle of multisensory perception, it is necessary to use all compensatory senses, activate auditory, sensory, kinesthetic channels of perception. Tactile inspection is realized through the creation of relief illustrations, tactile copies, replicas, as well as the formation of an interactive fund. Individual texts of interpreters are constructed considering the requirements of typhlokommentation.

Межгрупповое доверие русских в поликультурных регионах России: роль ценностей и межкультурных контактов

Objectives. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship of values and intercultural contacts with intergroup trust among the Russian ethnic minority in two multicultural regions of Russia — the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (RNO-A), the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR). Background. The study of out-group trust is important for multicultural societies. Out-trust contributes to the harmonization of intercultural relations, overcoming unstable social interactions and leads to important public benefits, including personal and social well-being. However, in Russia, trust was studied among the ethnic majority and in the context of acculturation problems. Study design. We conducted a socio-psychological survey. Data collection took place in towns and villages of North Ossetia-A and KBR, where the Russians live compactly. We used the “snowball” method. Respondents received blank questionnaires, completed them and returned them to the researcher. Participants. The sample included 593 Russian respondents. In RSO-A, the sample included 291 re¬spondents (29% of men, average age M=44,6); in KBR the sample included 302 respondents (36% of men, average age M=42,7). Measurements. We used Personal Values Questionnaire — Revised (Schwartz), the Yamagishi scale of trust, the scale of intercultural friendship contacts from the Mutual Intercultural Relations in Plural Societies project (MIRIPS). Results. The results showed that in RNO-A, Openness to change values, Conservation values were positively associated, and Self-Enhancement values were negatively related to out-group trust through intercultural contacts only. Intensive intercultural contacts of Russians also moderated the positive relationship between Openness to change values and out-group trust. In KBR, Self-Enhancement values had direct and indirect (through intercultural contacts) negative effects on out-group trust only. Intercultural contacts also moderated the negative relationship between Self-Enhancement values and out-group trust. Conclusions. In general, the results showed that the characteristics of the sociocultural context determine the significance of different values for out-group trust. In the situation of favorable intercultural relations and in “the close” religious context (RNO-A), if the Russians interact intensively with the dominant ethnic group representatives, then their values focused on the self-direction thought and action, openness to the world increase out-group trust. In “the distant” religious context in the situation of interethnic tension (KBR), if the Russians interact intensively with dominant ethnic groups representatives, then their values of achievement, power, “preserving their own face” reduce out-group trust.

Ethnic Diversity and Social Capital in the Russian Context

We examined the link between ethnic diversity and social capital to test Putnam’s hypothesis on the negative impact of ethnic diversity on social capital. Data came from a representative survey in two multicultural regions of Russia ( N = 2,061). To assess the level of ethnic diversity, an ethnic diversity index was calculated using data from the latest National Population Census in Russia. Data were analyzed using two-level structural equation modeling. The results did not confirm Putnam’s hypothesis and showed that ethnic diversity, as assessed in the latest National Population Census in Russia, was not negatively related to social capital in Russia. We argue that the long-standing ethnic diversity in Russia is positively related to informal sociability, and does not affect generalized trust and community organizational life. It is concluded that Putnam’s hypothesis does not have universal validity, presumably because the link between diversity and social capital is moderated by various regional and national characteristics.

Does Ethnic Diversity Affect Social Capital in the Russian Context?

The research considers the impact of ethnic diversity on social capital in the Russian context. The theoretical study is based on Putnam’s hypothesis related to the impact of ethnic diversity on social capital. The empirical basis of a representative survey was compiled in two multicultural regions of Russia (N = 2061). To assess the level of ethnic diversity an Ethnic Diversity Index (EDI) was calculated based on the results of the latest National Population Census. Data were processed using two-level structural equitation modelling. The results showed that ethnic diversity did not affect adversely the social capital of Russia, as assumed in Putnam’s hypothesis. In particular, Russia's ethnic diversity positively influences ethnic tolerance and informal sociability and does not affect social trust and community organizational life. The article also suggests reasons for these results.