Phenomenon Of Identity Research Articles

SOCIOLOGY OF IDENTITY OF ERICH H. ERIKSON: GNOSEOLOGICAL POSSIBILITIES AND CONTENT BOUNDARIES

The article examines the phenomenon of identity in the view of E. Erickson, through the prism of sociology, social psychology and philosophy. The types of identity proposed by Erickson are revealed through their content characteristics and social role. In the context of the theory of the identity crisis, the author proposes for understanding the factors of influence on the formation of a personality in social space. Identification is understood as a process of continuous comparison of themselves by the subjects of social reality (individual, social group, large human community) with other subjects. Social identity is presented by the author as an open process that continues in the context of a specific socio-cultural space. Through the prism of a mental approach to understanding the problems of interaction between society and a person, the epistemological possibilities and content boundaries of Erich H. Erickson's sociology in understanding the phenomenon of identity as a socially individual phenomenon are determined.

Constitutional identity and institutional autonomy of state

Introduction. The article deals with the phenomenon of constitutional identity, which allows strengthening the protection of constitution. The author shows, that the constitutional courts are the creators of the constitutional identity all around the world. That is why its principles may be called «praetorian law», as a reference to Roman judicial practice. The principles of constitutional identity form by themselves a core of constitutional provisions, which guarantee historical continuity and durability of any legal order. A nation can use them to preserve its existence in a legal reality. Constitutional identity creates a subordination of norms in the constitutional text. The most important of them are on the top. Such a vertical system gives to the Constitutional courts a useful criterion for balancing different interests in a society. This criterion is fair enough, because it is stipulated by the constitution itself.Materials and methods. The materials for the study include the constitutions of states, whose content is related to the problem discussed, decisions of constitutional courts and the legal positions expressed in them, as well as the conclusions of the constitutional and legal doctrine. The study uses the comparative method, which makes it possible to compare homogeneous legal phenomena, the systemic method, with the help of which constitutional identity is considered as an integral part of the mechanism of legal regulation, the dogmatic method that reveals the legal nature of the subject under study, as well as the dialectical method, which gives a holistic idea of subject of research.Results. Constitutional identity, which determines the hierarchy of constitutional norms and values, characterizes a state, emphasizing its differences from others. Constitutional identity should be unchanged over time and free from ongoing changes to the constitutional text. Then it allows identifying the permanent features of a particular legal order and the state as a whole. Consequently, the principles of constitutional identity preserve the historical heritage of the people, the patterns of its development and a certain predictability of the future. Thus, constitutional identity ensures the continuity of different historical periods.Discussion and conclusions. According to the author, the application of the principles of constitutional identity can give the current legal order an internal structure, reflected in the text of the Basic Law. At the same time, constitutional norms build a hierarchy that can reflect the hierarchy of significant values. The presence of such a hierarchy expands the possibilities of legal protection of the constitution, since the constitutional courts have a criterion for «weighing» public and private interests.

National identity in the Ottoman Empire as a historical and social fact

Defined both in an individual and in a social or cultural context, identity is a historical phenomenon; a consistent, complete sense of identity develops in the historical process. Social relations created by historical conditions shape Turkish identity, just like other collective identities. Revealed as one of the oldest nations in history, Turkish identity has also been shaped by the amalgamation of the effects created by the rule of law in the collective consciousness. Despite the fact that the length of the historical process makes it difficult to clearly identify the stages of the adventure, when studying Turkish identity it is necessary to look at the Ottoman Empire, which is a prerequisite for the modern Turkish state, and the self-identification of the society that feels belonging to the above state. Indeed, it is not very wrong to associate the phenomenon of identity as a topic of discussion with the relationship of the Ottoman state with the modern nation states of the West. In this context, it would be appropriate to touch upon the perception of identity in the Ottoman Empire.

THE PHENOMENON OF ISLAMIC IDENTITY IN THE RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL CONTEXT OF ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY

The authors of the article, through the prism of the formation of Islamic identity in traditional Islamic society, try to identify the main cultural, philosophical and religious concepts of the phenomenon of Islamic identity. The 21st century is becoming a century of global changes. The world of Islam and the world around Islam are changing. Wars, revolutions in the Islamic world, mass migrations of Muslims to Western Europe, the promotion of radicalism, terrorism, the development of a zero degree of tolerance in open societies, inter-confessional and intra-confessional intolerance once again served to open up in the humanities the problem of modernizing Islamic consciousness, Islamic philosophical and cultural thought, and also the main issues of the relationship between Islamic tradition and modern conditions. Islamic identity as the main component of the Islamic worldview today must be correlated with the new conditions of political, socio-economic and cultural transformation. Nevertheless, for an adequate understanding and knowledge of Islamic identity, it is important to conceptualize its foundations associated with the religion of Islam itself and the Islamic tradition. Islamic consolidation around the Islamic system of values forms the Muslim ummah, which is one of the main components of Muslim self-identification.

A QUEST FOR IDENTITY: AN ONTOLOGICAL SURVEY OF KAFKAESQUE WORLD

Purpose of the Study: Franz Kafka is a much-debated existential writer who portrays existential traumas prevalent in his era. This research unfolds identity-related issues present in an existential journey of characters. Those are usually discussed in terms of existence and being. Identity formation, in an existential narrative, is seen in the process of becoming.
 Methodology: This paper is an interpretive phenomenological study to unearth the phenomenon of identity. Heidegger's interpretive phenomenology, along with Sartre's ontological framework, will be used to analyze Kafka's two novels, The Trial and The Castle. Yet, his book, Amerika, is left as it is considered unfinished.
 Findings: The Kafkaesque world pictures the traumas of the existential world, and this study mainly focuses on the phenomenon of identity, which is in constant flux in these ever-changing dimensions of the existential journey. Authentic and inauthentic existence, good and bad faith, is essential binaries in evaluating the identity of any character at any given instance.
 Application of the Study: This study will contribute to the understanding of characters of the Kafkaesque world in the light of the identity issues from an ontological perspective. As characters of Kafka are constantly striving to achieve good faith and trying to abandon inauthentic existence to attain harmony with their existence.
 Novelty/Originality of the Study: Kafka has been studied for many existential perspectives, yet this study explores the phenomenon of identity embedded in the existential narrative. Identity is usually sought in relation to discourse and postcolonial studies while discussing the Kafkaesque world. Yet, in this research, identity-related issues have been coupled with existential and ontological processes going in the fictional narrative of Kafka.

Adaptive Adjustment Object Detection Algorithm under Multiple Mechanisms Based on GAN

Target tracking is prone to problems such as target loss and identity jump when the target is occluded and the attitude is changed. In order to solve this phenomenon, this paper proposes the adaptive adjustment object detection algorithm under multiple mechanisms based on GAN. This algorithm introduces a gradient penalty mechanism to the discriminator and uses the relative discriminator structure to reconstruct the discriminator, so as to improve the discriminatory ability of the discriminator. Then, through the feedback mechanism, the obtained data is fed back to the generator network in time, and the genetic mechanism is used to speed up the positioning of the key areas of the image. Experimental results show that compared with other existing algorithms, this algorithm can effectively locate and distinguish under different environments. And, the target still maintains a high resolution. When the target is occluded, it can effectively avoid the phenomenon of target loss and identity jump.

Armenian migrants in the Russian socio-territorial space: theoretical and methodological foundations of an empirical study

The article thematically focuses on the analysis of theoretical and methodological approaches to studying the social interactions of Armenian migrants with the local population. The components of the methodological basis on which empirical research is carried out are presented and described in detail. The procedural side of migrants 'adaptation is shown, as well as possible restrictions at various stages of migrants' adaptation. The concepts of accommodation, acculturation, and cultural shock are interpreted. The theory of social support and the acculturation model are analyzed. The possible consequences of migration for an individual or group are considered, including such categories as integration, assimilation, segregation, genocide. It is summarized: interethnic contact and the accompanying process of psychological adaptation for a migrant will depend on what acculturation strategy the individual adhered to. The process of reproduction of ethnic identity in a non-ethnic environment is studied. The essence of the phenomenon of the Diaspora as an ethnic community, its mentality, main features and functions are investigated. It is emphasized that the restructuring of the diaspora's mentality occurs during the collision of established forms of interaction with new types of communication, which helps to reduce the cultural distance between the diaspora and the host society. Ethnic identity is considered through its component part — the social identity of the individual. The phenomenon of identity is subjected to scientific observation from the position of its main component-self-identification. The methodological concepts of the study of factors and features of socio — cultural interaction of the dyad host community-ethnic migrants are analyzed. It is concluded that individual and socio-group adaptation is focused on the process of achieving social and psychological integration with another culture without losing the achievements of their own. The idea is updated that adaptation by the type of integration is considered a successful option for migrants, and unsuccessful adaptation can occur in the form of segregation or isolation.

SCIENTIFIC PROJECTIONS OF THE PHENOMENON OF PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF FUTURE EDUCATORS

One of the fundamental scientific problems that have interested scientists today is the problem of professional identity, that is, the transformation of the personality into a professional whose relevance has been determined by the significance of professional activity both for society and for each future specialist. We belive that in the conditions of globalization, professional identity can be considered as the main determinant of professional development of personality and the main characteristic of the subject of labor. The purpose of the article is the theoretical substantiation of the phenomenon of professional identity of future educators. In order to realize the aim of the research, we have used such theoretical methods as − systematic and structural analysis and systematization of philosophical, psychological and pedagogical works that made it possible to substantiate the researched phenomenon; pedagogical analysis and synthesis, classification and generalization - to clarify the essence of key conceptions of the research. We have conducted theoretical analysis which allows us to determine professional identity as a systemic, dynamic, multilevel psychological phenomenon, which has directly been related to professional self-determination, professional self-consciousness and professional development. We have distinguished personal features that determine the formation of professional identity: harassment, self-esteem, value and responsibility. We believe that professional identity is the most important factor of person's psychological well-being, because it has provided a sense of stability of the surrounding world and confidence in their power. In our opinion, the criteria for the successful process of becoming a professional identity of future educators have been: positive self-esteem; level of harassment; satisfaction from doing of professional tasks and a positive attitude towards professional activity; responsibility for the implementation of the norms, rules of professional activity and requirements relating to the personality as a professionalist; the adoption of norms and values ​​inherent in a professional community; academic success. Achievements of professional identity have occured exclusively in the process of self-development, in the context of vocational training and successful integration of future educators into professional environment. We have been convinced that the formation of professional identity of future educators should be the strategic goal of the national educational system.

SOCIOCULTURAL IDENTITY POSTMODERN: PROBLEM OF SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION

SOCIOCULTURAL IDENTITY POSTMODERN: PROBLEM OF SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Formation of Ukrainian Civilizational Identity: An Interdisciplinary Discourse

Taking into account the methodology of Ukrainian and interdisciplinary studies, the available research on the theory and practice of identification processes, the article considers the phenomenon of civilizational identity of Ukrainians, its origins, formation, and current state from the standpoint of civilizational, anthropological, and sociocultural approaches. The concept of “civilizational identity” indicates the affiliation of an individual, ethnic group, or state to a particular civilization and is interpreted as a set of symbols, ideas, feelings, and self-awareness of their belonging to the Ukrainian cultural and civilizational community, which is based on national and universal values within the space of European civilizations and interaction with them. 
 The author analyzes theoretical and methodological foundations of civilizational identity presented in the works by A. Bergson, M. Weber, К. Wolf, S. Huntington, E. Gellner, I. Hoffmann, E. Husserl, J. Derrida, K. Eder, E. Erikson, G. Simmel, A. Camus, E. Cassier, A. Kuna, K. Levi-Strauss, G. Rickert, E. Smith, A. Toynbee, S. Freud, C. Jung, K. Jaspers, and others. He considers its Ukrainian features and structure: ethnic, national, cultural, religious, political, civic, European, and other components, shown in connection with the mentality and global nature against the background of historical progress and post-Soviet transformations, beginning from the Middle Ages, Kyivan Rus, the Renaissance, modernism and ending with postmodernism; emphasizes the historical mission of Ukrainian Cossacks as a national carrier of a new identity, tracks civilizational self-determination of the Ukrainian identity at the turn of the 19th–20th centuries, as well as the role of consciousness, social psychology, and the national idea in the civilizational transformation of identity; highlights the causes of the identity crisis and schism in the conditions of totalitarianism, its devastating consequences for the identification process of Ukrainians in general. 
 The main focus is put on the study of the specifics of the civilizational identity formation in the conditions of independence of Ukraine; the role of its components – ethnic, religious, national, civic, and European; the contribution of T. Bevz, T. Voropaieva, M. Kozlovets, I. Kutsyi, L. Nahorna, M. Obushnyi, Yu. Pavlenko, Yu. Polishchuk, M. Popovych, O. Rafalskyi, V. Tkachenko, M. Shulha, M. Yurii, and others to the study of key aspects of the problem; the influence on the civilizational identification processes, European integration, and globalization of the modern world, Revolution of dignity, democratization of the society, interethnic relations, aggressive policy of Russia. The article highlights ways to preserve Ukrainian identity in the alien environment, the role of Ukrainians abroad in shaping civilizational identity. 
 Significant attention is paid to the importance of Ukrainian studies as an academic synthesis of historical, philosophical, ethnological, cultural, and psychological knowledge in the elaboration of scholarly bases for building the civilizational identity and summarizing the relevant accumulated practical experience. A number of proposals have been made to further research the problem, increasing the role of the state and civil society in activating the civilizational identification of Ukrainians and their prospects.

Emotion, rationality, and social identity: a theoretical-methodological proposal for a cognitive approach.

Humberto Maturana's biology of cognition and the studies of neuroscientist Antonio Damasio have proposed theories that indicate the role of emotion in cognitive processes. Emotion lies at the basis of any behavior. An emotional transition defines a transition from one domain of actions to the other, while emotions shared in human interaction define collective domains of action and thus also social identity. In this case, they may give rise to operational coherences within the same domain of action which is recognized as "rationality". The transition from one operational coherence to another within the same rationality does not therefore entail an emotional transition. This article uses this theoretical framework to propose an interpretation of the phenomenon of social identity and distinguishes social identities based only on emotions from those related to operational coherence. We call the former type of social identity "ontological", while the latter is referred to as "formal". To empirically prove the theoretical proposal of the article, the concept of metacontrast found in social self-categorization theory and its quantification elaborated by Alberto Voci are used. According to the social self-categorization theory, the greater the distance between two groups' visions of the world, the greater the metacontrast between them. Using our model, metacontrast must thus be greater for ontological social identity and less for formal social identity. Our hypothesis was confirmed by the data. This outcome allows huge applications of the methodology proposed, as exemplified in the final considerations.

THE IDENTITY AS AN ART PHENOMENON

The research subject is the study of the Phenomenon of identity and its reflection in contemporary Ukrainian art. The purpose of the work is to investigate the specifics of the Phenomenon's reflection of identity in contemporary Ukrainian art. The work methodology is based on chronological and scientific comprehensiveness, art history, historical, philosophical, and culturological approaches, ontological, axiological, hermeneutic, phenomenological, cross-cultural, and method of art analysis. The work results allow us to understand the evolution of researchers' views in various fields on the Phenomenon of identity and its application in contemporary art approaches. The results' scope is today's artistic practices, history, art theory, and art criticism, teaching activities for students and graduate students of creative specialties. Findings. The Phenomenon of identity in contemporary art means that problem of its reflection in the art exists and begins to be understandable. Some conclusions about the correctness of the direction of practices and patterns to a new search identity approach can be made considering foreign experience. Simultaneously, a society that interacts with contemporary art in the latest cultural projects and what principles of such participation should be taken into account in organizational, design, exhibition, and interpretive activities. The proof that modern contemporary art in its various manifestations is deeply rooted in the socio-cultural process, and therefore has different forms of identity, is closely connected with the past and present of Ukraine. Appeal to the past in art - preserving memory, rethinks symbols and signs, gives new life to archaic images and techniques; art is turned to the present, reflecting on reality. Presenting society's moods and problems accumulate the achievements of Ukraine as an independent country.Keywords: contemporary art, identity, Ukraine, the beginning of XXI century.

INFLUENCE OF ETHNIC IDENTITY ON REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT INTERETHNIC INTEGRATION: TO STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The author fixes the main trends associated with the study of the phenomena of ethnic identity and interethnic integration in social philosophy and identifies gaps that could be filled by expanding of their interpretation. It is recorded that in a significant part of the research, the phenomena are considered separately. Thus, ethnic identity is expressed as a one-dimensional parameter, part of the “identification matrix” of an individual. Studies devoted to interethnic integration are often aimed at identifying mechanisms for achieving an abstract desired image – a multiethnic community with a high degree of integration of its members, who clearly and most often unambiguously realize their ethnic identity. Despite the obvious interrelation of the phenomena under consideration, there are very few studies, dedicated to the influence of ethnic identity on interethnic integration. It is shown that it is important to rethink the phenomenon of ethnic identity in terms of its fluidity, multiplicity, fragmentation, non-reflection, complexity as a basis for the formation of ideas about strategies and ideas about acceptable for the individual mechanisms of interethnic integration. It is also relevant to study the influence of ethnic identity on the ideas of interethnic integration in the multi-ethnic communities of modern large cities.

The Afghan Identity Reflected in A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The article deals the phenomenon of identity and its kinds, particularly ethnic and religious identities, as they are essential for forming an Afghan identity. Moreover, the history of Afghanistan has greatly influenced the development of Afghan identity. Several nations have tried to conquer this country and its people, but without any success. Afghanistan is considered a cemetery of great empires. We have decided to examine what influenced the formation of Afghan identity, especially the era from Soviet invasion to Taliban up to present days. The submitted research is based on a novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, who is currently the most famous and popular author writing about Afghanistan.

Europe as the "other" of Russian historiosophical consciousness: from the middle ages to modernity

Introduction. The paper reviews the phenomenon of perception of Western Europe as the "other" in Russian intellectual tradition. The purpose of this survey is to analyze and identify the features of Russian historiosophical consciousness in the transition of Russian civilization from the middle ages to modernity in the context of the idea of perceiving Europe as the "other".Materials and Methods. The main material of the paper is a monograph by Nizhny Novgorod researches «The problem of correlation of panhuman and national in the history of Russian thought». In addition, the material of the research is the works and articles by Russians and foreign authors focus on the subject under consideration. The article used the following methods: historical-philosophical analysis, interpretation, comparison and generalization.Results. In the medieval period the main consolidating power of society was religion, which identified the «other» as the Catholic of Western Europe. During the reign of Emperor Nicholas I, the «other» is still the same West, but the revolutionary West with its slogan «Liberty, equality, fraternity». The minister of national education – the earl S.S. Uvarov, in turn, proposed the following triad – «Orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality». Formation of the Russian nationality was under intense pressure from the West (the «other» of Russian civilization) during this period. The split of the Russian Orthodox Church (Raskol) in XVII century led to destruction of the Orthodox unity. The Orthodoxy was the source of sacralisation of monarchial power. However, the autocracy, having dealt a blow tothe Orthodoxy, set a course for the Western absolutism. Certain social circles, keeping up old traditions of the Orthodoxy, perceived the political authority as the «other». This led not only to the religion split (Orthodoxy), but also to the split in nationality. A pro-Western elite is being formed and, having lost its connection with Orthodoxy and traditional folk culture, it finds itself in the desert of its own historical identity. As a result, historiosophical projects, created by government and intelligentsia, caused an additional split, being unable to restore the lost unity.Discussion and Conclusions. The authors of the research managed to make systematic and detailed historical-philosophical analysis of sources and literature on this topic. The paper presents the main concepts that explain the phenomenon of Russian national identity. This makes it possible to consider and evaluate the key ideas of Russian thinkers. As a result, the authors of the research managed to make comprehensive and systematic historical-philosophical analysis of the development of the idea of Russian national identity through the prism of the concept of perception of Western Europe as the «other» of Russia.

ALL-RUSSIAN CIVIL IDENTITY IN THE OFFICIAL DISCOURSE OF THE REPUBLICS OF NORTHERN CAUCASUS

The article considers the issue of formation of the all-Russian civil identity, actualized in the domestic political discourse. The paper reviews the phenomenon of identity as a dialogical and discursive phenomenon. In order to determine the main trends in the development of the North Caucasian republics, the author investigates regional practices of implementing the Strategy of State National Policy, internal political and inter-ethnic relations, migration processes. The study emphasizes the necessity of finding special formats of socio- political organization of the subjects of the Northern Caucasus region, expressing not only their local and ethno-cultural characteristics, but coping with the function of consolidation and co-optation of local communities in national socially and politically significant processes. As a result of the analysis of the problem of general civil identity generation the author concludes that these problems are primarily due to the contradictory dichotomy of identification processes that provoke competition and confrontation between ethnic and civil identities. In different objectively proposed circumstances the ambivalent manifestation of identity in the majority of Northern Caucasus peoples can act as a destructive, and a factor in the growth of All-Russian civil identity.

Феномен нагайбакской идентичности как результат политико-административных реформ и русских культурных влияний второй половины XVI - начала ХХ в.

Феномен нагайбакской идентичности как результат политико-административных реформ и русских культурных влияний второй половины XVI - начала ХХ в.

THE PHENOMENON OF THE LANGUAGE IDENTITY OF PERSONALITYAS A SUBJECT OF SOCIO-PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION

The urgency of the topic is due to the rapid exponential growth of immigration to developed countries, the emergence of newly created diverse language communities. They significantly affect the linguistic picture of the world of the individual, which leads to numerous studies of the phenomenon of linguistic identity of the individual and its potential impact on micro-communities. The purpose of our scientific research is to reveal the features of the phenomenon of linguistic identity of the individual as a subject of socio-philosophical reflection. The methodological complex of socio-philosophical research involves establishing a link between language and social identity of the individual in the context of diversity of its manifestations. Therefore, there are various theories for their explanation, including sociolinguistic, sociocultural and social constructivism, which justify the process of formation of linguistic identity as a two-way, mutual and interactive process. The objectives of the study: 1) to clarify the essence of the phenomenon of linguistic identity of the individual from the standpoint of socio-philosophical reflection; 2) to study the influence of multimodal environment (technological and digital communication tools) on the formation of linguistic identity of the individual. Scientific novelty: for the first time a comprehensive philosophical understanding of the linguistic identity of the individual from the standpoint of sociolinguistic, sociocultural theories and social constructivism is presented.

Influence of the Multiethnic Environment on the Diasporic Identity of Koreans in Kazakhstan

The author of this article examines the phenomenon of diaspora and diasporic identity, conditions, and factors influencing the transformation and development of identity in a multiethnic society in Kazakhstan. Diasporic identity is a multifaceted phenomenon characterized by its dynamism. Kazakhstani Koreans (ethnonym — “Koryo Saram”) are integrated into the multiethnic society of modern Kazakhstan and it can be argued that the overwhelming majority of them are urbanized. This factor determines the high rate of acculturation, which leads to the transformation of the traditional Korean community. The author also analyzes the relationship between ethnic and diaspora identities. The characteristic forms of manifestation of ethnic identity, as well as methods for preserving and manifestation of the ethnic identity of the Korean diaspora in Kazakhstan, are analyzed. A diaspora is not a diaspora by default — initially, it is a group that is in an amorphous state, which can develop into a diaspora, provided that its construction is based on ethnic consciousness. The community of Koreans in Kazakhstan is not ethnically closed. As a result, the nature of the phenomenon of diasporic identity was determined and the forms of manifestation of the diasporic identity of Koreans in Kazakhstan were identified. The diasporic identity of Koryo Saram — a construct of various identities, which are based on a common cultural basis and are superimposed on the identity of representatives of the multiethnic society of Kazakhstan — is a “borderline” phenomenon: on the one hand, representatives of the diaspora are focused on the preservation of their ethnic and cultural identity, or “otherness” in relation to the ethnic majority; on the other hand, the situation of long-term residence and adaptation to new socio-cultural conditions determines the process of socialization and the formation of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s civic identity.

РЕЛИГИОЗНАЯ ИДЕНТИЧНОСТЬ: "СВОЁ" И "ЧУЖОЕ" КАК ГЛОБАЛЬНОЕ, ЛОКАЛЬНОЕ И ГЛОКАЛЬНОЕ (БЕЛАРУСЬ, ГЕРМАНИЯ, РОССИЯ)

The history of the 19th and 20th centuries has highlighted a number of specific aspects of the phenomenon of religious identity, the roots of which can be traced back to the Reformation. The “language of respondents” (“language of the first order”) and “language of experts” (“language of the second order”) are distinguished, differing as observation of reality and observation of observers of reality. The study analyzes ideas about “us”, “them”, global, local, and glocal on materials from Belarus and Russia in comparison with materials from Germany. The article considers alternative forms of personal and group identification, which have gone through a number of historical stages of their relationships, having retained their significance to the present time, often interpreted as a relationship of absolute “good” with absolute “evil”, while in one case one religion is “good”, and in a friend - another.