The role of the Russian population in the sociocultural integration of peoples North Caucasus: demographic dynamics and perceptions student youth of the Stavropol Territory

The article is devoted to the role of the Russian population in the sociocultural integration of the North Caucasus. The declining sociocultural status and negative migration and demographic dynamics of the Russian population of the North Caucasus have a negative impact on the further development of the region. The risks of reducing the role of Russian culture and weakening the mental basis of Russian sociocultural identity are increasing. Based on a sociological analysis of integration processes in the region, the sociocultural significance of Russians as bearers of the basic institutions of Russian culture and statehood in the process of Soviet and post-Soviet modernization is highlighted. The main reasons for the outflow of the Russian population in the 1980-1990s and the ongoing decline in its number are revealed. Based on a sociological survey, a positive assessment by young people of the contribution of the Russian population to the modernization of the North Caucasus, their positive ideas about the basic features of the national character of Russians living in the North Caucasus, a high degree of integration of young people around the main socio-cultural symbols of all-Russian identity were determined. According to respondents, the main reasons for the outflow of Russians from their region are the lack of prospects for development and self-realization, poverty and unemployment, clanism and corruption. The decline in the Russian population is not perceived by most young people as a significant problem. A high degree of coincidence of positive assessments by respondents of different ethnic groups of the contribution of the Russian population to the development of the North Caucasus was revealed, a significant degree of coincidence was established between the self-description of the communicative ethnic characteristics of Russian respondents and their perception by respondents from among the North Caucasian peoples. The results of the study confirm a steady trend towards strengthening interethnic integration among young people in the North Caucasus region.