Ethnicity, nations and nationalities. Ethnic communities: tribe people nation
Ethnicity, people, nation, nationality. The difference in concepts, the danger of confusing them. The people as the basis of Eurasian integration
Huge variety ethnic composition population makes our country unique. According to Rosstat, representatives of more than 180 ethnic groups live in Russia. As a rule, each group has its own language, preserves certain traditions, carries within itself an original mythology, worldview, value system... This diversity, of course, lies the wealth of Russia. Every language, every myth, every tradition makes our common Russian culture wider and more multifaceted.
At the same time, it is obvious that multiethnicity, if implemented carelessly, can become the Achilles heel of the Russian state. Such influential geopoliticians in the United States as G. Kissinger and Z. Brzezinski have repeatedly voiced in their works the idea of dividing the “Heartland” (first the USSR, and then Russia) into several controlled national states. Our geopolitical opponents could implement this scenario by inciting interethnic contradictions in Russia, introducing controlled people into the Russian internal political field, using the latest social technologies and mass media. Therefore, in the sphere of regulating Russian interethnic relations, a balanced, carefully thought-out approach and a well-developed strategy are needed. The goal of such a strategy is to make our society stable, to eliminate the possibility of its split due to interethnic strife.
Impossible to discuss various options national policy strategies and offer something new, without having decided on basic ethnosociological concepts. Experts in the field of sociology, including A.G. Dugin, note that there is a certain confusion in the understanding of ethnosociological terms even in the scientific community. The purpose of this report is to try to clearly distinguish between such fundamental concepts for sociology, as an ethnos, people, nation and nationality, and then briefly outline the course in regulating interethnic relations that is proposed by representatives of the conservative Eurasian movement.
The first important concept that I would like to consider in the framework of the report is concept of ethnicity. Sergei Shirokogorov and Max Weber defined an ethnos as a group of people speaking the same language and having a common origin and traditions.
Language is extremely important factor in the life of an ethnic group. As the German philosopher Martin Heidegger said, language is the house of being. It is the language that unites the area in which the ethnic group lives. For example, everyone who thinks and speaks Russian can be considered Russian, no matter what state they live in.
In most cases, the origin of an ethnic group lies in the belief in a common ancestor. Since the presence of a common ancestor is very difficult to prove or, conversely, to refute, historically any person who believed in the myth of his common origin with members of the ethnos could join the ethnos.
It can also be noted that ethnicity is an indivisible, basic sociological unit. Any attempt to invade the culture of an ethnic group, to dismember it, to disrupt the natural course of its existence, destroys the ethnic group. There is no strict stratification in the ethnic group; it is characterized by relationships similar to those of a family, that is, authority is usually exercised by older members of the community. Ethnicity is a static, conservative unit, capable of existing for a long time in an almost unchanged state, preserving its language and culture.
People is also a basic ethnosociological concept. During historical process ethnic groups interact with each other, lose their static state, and gradually form nations together. Another option is also possible, when an already formed active people absorbs, including through military means, the ethnic groups living nearby.
A people can be defined as a union of ethnic groups that enters history and becomes a player in the political arena. Moreover, society acquires a high degree of differentiation. By forming a single people, ethnic groups can create a state, religion and civilization.
A clear example of the emergence of a people from an ethnic group on the path to a nation can be considered the Jewish people: “The Jews existed as an ethnic group, entered history in a state of dispersion, which lasted more than two thousand years, and at the same time they survived, becoming a people, and then created their own national the nation-state of Israel." Also, the concept of people is inherent in Russians, who were formed from many ethnic groups.
People - unique and deep Russian concept, which has no analogues in other languages. In English “people” can be translated as “people”, in Spanish as “el pueblo” i.e. Men in German“people” - “das Volk”, in pronunciation close to the Russian word “regiment”. One way or another, in no other language is there found such a capacious concept as the Russian “people”, which could designate a huge mass of ethnically diverse population, united by common goals and a common history.
Nation- a social unit that expresses the political unity of individuals living in the same state. Latin word"natio" denotes a mass of people having a common territorial origin. When a nation is formed, cultural differences between the ethnic groups and peoples that formed the state are erased. A nation is nothing more than a “melting pot” that destroys traditional forms of identity (ethnic, cultural, even religious) and creates an artificial entity within the state. When a nation is created, as a rule, linguistic differences between ethnic groups are completely eliminated, and the language of one of the most numerous ethnic groups is imposed in the state as the only one possible for use.
In a Nation-State, "Etat-Nation" in French, by definition there can only be one nation. A nation is determined primarily by a formal criterion - citizenship. Nationality and citizenship are identical, synonymous concepts. Nations can be considered, for example, the population of France and the USA. In these states, a policy of erasing ethnic differences has been deliberately pursued for centuries. Only the identity of the citizen as an individual is strictly protected; other forms of identity are sacrificed to the political interests of the ruling circles.
Nationality- a term introduced by the Austrian Marxist O. Bauer, who understood by this word a people passing into the state of a nation. In our country, under nationality in Soviet era ethnicity was implied, which does not correspond to the definition of this term accepted in the world scientific community. Calling an ethnic group that is part of a state a nationality is the same as calling for separatism. According to the constitution, we are the multinational people of Russia. If a people is multinational, it means doomed to disintegrate into several nation-states, while at the same time, if it is multiethnic, it means united within the state, but consisting of population groups of different origins and cultures.
The future of Russia: united people or nation? Why is the nation, from the point of view of representatives of the Eurasian movement, not the best option For Russia? As already mentioned, the formation of a nation is nothing more than the depersonalization of the people, the elimination of all forms of identity other than the individual. When the cultural code of an ethnic group is destroyed, the system of meanings and values that helped members of the community exist and “fight for their place in the Sun” disappears. If we remove ethnic differences between citizens of a state and impose a common liberal “surrogate of culture” on everyone, then historically established traditional meanings will disappear. A people forcibly transformed into a nation may lose incentives to develop and defend its territory. The result could be the complete extinction of such a nation and disappearance from the historical arena.
Another development option Russian society may be the gradual formation of a single, but multi-ethnic, people. Which, with its diversity, could unite on the basis of a common historical path, common values and a common popular idea. Many sociologists understand “empire” as a combination of strategic unity and multi-ethnicity. Perhaps the most optimal or even the only possible variant existence of Russian society is precisely an empire. Russia has historical experience in building ethnically diverse empires. Moreover, this experience can be considered successful given all the military, economic and cultural achievements of a single Russian people, starting from the multi-ethnic Russian kingdom, ending with the communist empire of the USSR.
Social communities of people were historically preceded by ethnic ones, on the basis of which they emerged in the process of development and complication of human relations.
In social philosophy, the study of ethnic communities of people began to be carried out much later than many other things, but in terms of its importance and significance it occupies a leading place. To date, there is no common point of view among scientists on this issue.
Ethnic communities-- This large groups people united by a common culture, language and cultural and historical identity. These usually include tribes, nationalities and nations.
Such communities develop in a certain territory in the course of joint economic activities. Their members have general features psychological make-up, and are also clearly aware of their unity and difference from other similar communities. To recognize a group as an ethnic community, at least one of the following is required: following conditions:
- · members of the community are aware of their belonging to it;
- · common origin of community members is assumed;
- · members of the community have linguistic and cultural unity;
- · there is an internal social organization, normalizing relationships within the community and contacts with others.
Tribe
Historically, the formation of ethnic communities can be counted from the moment of the collapse of the primitive human herd. Initially, a clan arises - a group of people united by blood. Members of the clan were aware of their kinship and shared common family name. The genus included several or many families.
The emergence of the genus was facilitated by the emergence primitive community, economic basis which was communal property. Joint farming on the basis of communal property, natural-equal distribution of things, primarily food, common life and entertainment contributed to the formation of such a community as a clan. We can say that the genus acts as the very first production, social and ethnic group of people, united into one united whole labor activity, consanguineous origin, common language, common religious and mythological beliefs, customs and features of life.
Several clans could unite into clans - clan unions. The unity of the clans was based on the belief in a common origin. Several clans could form a tribe. The basis of the unity of the tribe is blood ties; in addition, a tribe lives in a certain territory, its members have a common language or dialect, their own customs and cult, joint economic activity, the beginnings of internal organization (tribal council).
The emergence of the tribe is explained by the need, first of all, to preserve and protect the habitat (territory of residence, hunting and fishing grounds) from encroachment by other human groups. The larger population made the task of resettlement and establishing life in new territories much easier. Of no small importance was also the protection against the degeneration of the race, which threatened it due to sexual relations between consanguineous Homosapiens.
Nationality
Nations begin to consist of tribes after the appearance of the first states. The nationality is characterized by a territorial community united by economic and cultural activities, and common language. Belonging to a nationality is no longer determined only by blood ties.
Nation - highest form socio-ethnic community. And this is not surprising, because... It is the unification of people along national lines that creates the best preconditions for people to live, organize production, economic, socio-political and cultural life. Community economic life, a single language, a common territory, some features of the mental makeup of people, manifested in specific features culture are the main features of a nation.
We can say that a nation is a stable association of people connected by a common language, a common territory, a common economic life and some features of the mental makeup of people, expressed in the specific features of the culture of a given people.
The specificity of the sociological approach to the study of ethnic groups lies, first of all, in the fact that, unlike ethnography, which has a pronounced historical and descriptive nature, in sociology ethnic communities are considered as elements of the social structure of society , in close connection with other social groups - classes, strata, territorial communities and various social institutions. In this regard, the problem of ethnic stratification arises as an independent topic, since ethnicity, nationality in modern world, especially in our country, is an important indicator of the social position of an individual and his ethnic group as a whole. In addition, ethnic groups and relations are analyzed within the framework of a conceptual model accepted in sociology, expressing the relationship of three main levels - culture, social system and personality. In other words, the life activity of an ethnic group is considered within the framework of systemic-structural concepts, and the ethnic community - as one of the subsystems of society as a whole, is in connection and relationships with other social subsystems and social institutions.
The peculiarities of the culture and life of various ethnic groups are the subject of close study by ethnographers. In sociology, ethnographic material is used by scientists to construct general theoretical concepts and typologies.
It should be noted that until recently, sociologists had little interest in the study of ethnic groups, which usually belonged to the area of so-called “social problems”, which have a purely applied, practical significance, and not scientific-cognitive. Over the past 20-30 years, the situation has changed radically. Due to a number of reasons - economic, political, sociocultural, psychological, demographic, etc., issues of studying national-ethnic relations in the modern world have acquired such relevance and significance that this issue has become the object of large-scale research -niy. The wave of national-ethnic conflicts that have swept across the world in recent decades has prompted sociologists, as well as representatives of other social sciences, to build new explanations for the phenomenon of national-ethnic relations, which seemed to many scientists solved and explained, since the process of formation of national states in the leading countries of the world was completed. Exacerbation of national-ethnic processes in countries former USSR can be considered as an integral part of this worldwide process of “return to ethnicity,” although here it certainly has its own characteristics.
It is customary to distinguish three main types of ethnic groups - tribe, nationality and nation, which differ from each other in the level of development of culture, economy, knowledge, etc.
Tribe- this is a kind of association of people that is inherent in primitive formations and is characterized by consanguineous ties between people. A tribe is formed on the basis of several clans or clans, leading a common descent from one ancestor. People are also united into a tribe by common religious beliefs- fetishism, totemism, etc., the presence of a common spoken dialect, the beginnings of political power (council of elders, leaders, etc.), common territory of residence. The leading form of economic activity at this historical stage was hunting and gathering.
Nationality differs from the tribal organization more high level economic development, the formation of a certain economic structure, the presence of folklore, that is folk culture in the form of myths, legends, rituals and customs. A nationality has an already formed language (written), a special way of life, religious consciousness, institutions of power, and self-awareness, expressed in its name. More than a hundred different nationalities lived on the territory of the former USSR, administratively and territorially assigned to autonomous republics and districts. Many of them remain part of the Russian Federation.
Process of creation nation, as the most developed form of an ethnic group, occurs during the period of the final formation of statehood, the widespread development of economic ties in the territory previously occupied by several nationalities, general psychology (national character), a special culture, language and writing, developed ethnic identity. Nations that come together create states. In Europe, this process took place during the transition from feudalism to capitalism and finally ended during the creation of a mature capitalist economy and the creation national culture in the main countries of the European continent - France, Germany, Spain, etc.. In Russia, a similar process of nation formation began in the pre-revolutionary period, but it did not receive its natural completion and was interrupted October Revolution, after which the national question began to be resolved from the positions of Marxist-Leninist ideology, within the framework of a totalitarian system of power.
Of the three indicated varieties of ethnicity, sociologists pay primary attention to the study of nations and national relations, since this type of ethnic group prevails in the modern world, including on the territory of our country. Therefore, in the sociological literature, the terms “ethnic” and “national” are often used as synonyms or in the phrase “national-ethnic”.
Ethnographers studying the life and culture of various ethnic groups today argue about whether living on a common territory is an essential feature of an ethnic community. It is known from world practice that representatives of any ethnic group do not always live in the same territory and form a separate state. Quite often it happens that representatives of one ethnic group can live in the territories of other states and ethnic groups (indigenous nations), while maintaining character traits of their own ethnicity - customs, traditions, behavioral stereotypes, not to mention a common language. Therefore, in fact, there are no states in the world within whose borders only representatives of one ethnic group would live. Even within the framework of European mononational states - France, Germany, Sweden, etc., representatives of different ethnic groups live within the boundaries of one political entity. The “nationality” column is not used at all in many Western countries; they talk about French, German, American, etc. citizenship, and not about nationality, since the national and political characteristics of the ethnic community coincide here. -The term “American,” for example, means not so much ethnicity how much citizenship?
Off the top of my head, this is a rhetorical question. It seems that everything here is absolutely clear and understandable.
A nation is people unitedby its origin, language, common views, common place of residence.
A people is people united not only by one history, land and common language, but also unitedstate system.
It is from the identity of worldviews that such phrases as “the great American nation,” “Russian people,” and “the people of Israel” arose.
It must be said that the words “nation” and “people” are closely related to the concept “ nationalism" And there are plenty of stories when liberal nationalism (protecting the interests of each people separately) can easily turn into extreme nationalism (chauvinism). Therefore, the issue under consideration requires an attentive attitude.
Foundations of Russian statehood
In the opinion of the progressively thinking part of the population, the question of peoples and nations should, first of all, be based on Constitution the country in which the person lives and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The first article of the founding document of the United Nations explains clearly and simply that human beings are “born free and equal” in both “dignity” and “rights.”
People living on the territory of Russia and using a single state language (Russian) proudly call themselves Russians.
It should be noted that the Constitution of the Russian Federation begins with words that reflect the essence life principles Russians: “We, a multinational people Russian Federation..." And in Chapter 1 of the “Fundamentals of the Constitutional System,” Article 3 explains that “the bearer of sovereignty and the only source of power in the Russian Federation is its multinationalpeople».
Thus, the concept of “people” means all nations and nationalities living within one state.
And Russia is no exception. This is the homeland different nations speaking different languages who profess different religions, and, most importantly, differ in their cultural identity and mentality.
But the question posed in the title of the article excites the consciousness of the public and gives rise to many completely different opinions to this day.
One of the main and state-supported opinions is the assertion that “ in the friendship of peoples - the unity of Russia" And “interethnic peace” is the “basis of life” Russian state. But this opinion is not supported by radical nationalists who, because of their beliefs, are ready to blow up the state system of the Russian Federation.
Therefore, issues of tolerance, patriotism, interethnic conflicts, active life position, are brought up for wide public discussion not by chance.
After all, it is no longer a secret that in interethnic relations the problem of not only cruelty, but also real aggression has become very acute. This is due, first of all, to economicproblems(competition for jobs), and then with the search for those responsible for the current economic situation in the state. After all, it’s always easier to say that if “not for these...”, then we would have butter on the table.
Scientific understanding of the terms “people” and “nation”
Let us consider the concepts of “nation” and “people” more specifically. Today there is no single understanding of the term “nation”.
But in the sciences that deal with development issues human society, two main formulations of the word “nation” are accepted.
The first says that this is a community of people who it worked outhistorically based on the unity of land, economy, politics, language, culture and mentality. All this together is expressed in a single civic identity.
The second point of view says that a nation is a unity of people who are characterized by a common origin, language, land, economy, worldview and culture. Their relationship is manifested in ethnicconsciousness.
The first point of view states that a nation is democraticco-citizenship.
In the second case, it is argued that a nation is an ethnic group. This point of view exists in the universal human consciousness.
Let's consider these concepts as well.
It is believed that ethnicity is historicallystable community of people living on a certain land, who have features of external similarity, general culture, language, a single way of thinking and consciousness. A nation was formed on the basis of associations of clans, tribes and nationalities. The creation of a cohesive state contributed to their formation.
Therefore, in the scientific understanding, a nation is considered as a civil community of people. And then, as a community of people of a certain state.
Civil and ethnocultural nations
Despite the different approaches to the concept of the word “nation,” all participants in the discussions are unanimous in one thing: there are two types of nations – ethnocultural and civil.
If we talk about the peoples of Russia, then we can say that all the small nationalities inhabiting the North of the Russian Federation are ethnocultural nations.
And the Russian people are a civil nation, since it was practically formed already within the existing statehood with a common political history and laws.
And, of course, when it comes to nations, we should not forget their fundamental right - the nation’s right to self-determination. This international term, which is taken into account by representatives of all states, gives a nation the opportunity to secede from one or another state and form its own.
However, it must be said that during the collapse of the USSR, the Russian people, who were in large numerical superiority in most republics, were unable to take advantage of this right and practically remained most divided nation in the world.
On the main differences between a people and a nation
Based on all of the above, we can safely say that the nation and people are conceptstotally different, but having a single root of formation.
The people are culturalcomponent, that is, these are people connected not only by blood ties, but having a single official language, culture, territory and shared past.
Nation – politicalcomponent of the state. That is, a nation is a people who have managed to create their own state. Without it, the nation does not exist. For example, Russians who live abroad are among the Russian people, but not the Russian nation. They are identified with the nation of the state where they live.
Citizenship is the only criterion by which a nation is defined. In addition, we must take into account such a concept as a “titular” nation. Their language is most often the official language, and their culture becomes dominant. At the same time, other nations and nationalities living on their territory do not lose their individuality.
Conclusion
And there’s one more thing I’d definitely like to say. There are no nations, good or bad, there are people, good or bad, and their actions. This is always worth remembering. After all, Russia has many nationalities. And knowledge of the concepts of “people” and “nation” will help to accept and understand the ethnic diversity of the country with the proud name of Russia.
Ethnic communities include
3) marginalized
4) nationalities
Explanation.
Types of ethnic groups: clan, tribe, nationality, nation.
Answer: 4
Which community is characterized by the following features: peculiarities of language, culture, common historical memory?
1) professional
2) territorial
3) demographic
4) ethnic
Explanation.
Ethnicity is a group of people united by common characteristics: origin, language, culture, territory of residence, identity, etc.
The correct answer is 4, since professional communities imply a single position in the labor system, territorial ones are characterized by state administrative education, demographic ones by the sex and age characteristics of individuals, and ethnic communities by the common origin of language, culture, and a common historical memory.
The correct answer is listed at number 4.
Answer: 4
Subject area: Social relations. Ethnic communities
Which feature primarily distinguishes ethnic groups?
1) community of professional interests
2) similar level of income and quality of life
3) commonality of historical experience, historical memory
4) belonging to a single age group
Explanation.
Ethnicity is a group of people united by common characteristics: objective or subjective. Various directions in ethnology these signs include origin, language, culture, territory of residence, identity, etc. Signs:
Firstly, it is the language of a given nation, nationality, as the main instrument of communication, forming in people a sense of a single linguistic community.
Secondly, this is a socio-historical formation, which, as a rule, has a long history of formation.
Thirdly, the presence of a specific material and spiritual culture of the ethnic group, expressed in the uniqueness of housing buildings.
Fourthly, the peculiarities of the life of ethnic groups are associated with family and everyday behavior.
Fifthly, these are standards of everyday behavior, etiquette, greetings, characteristic gestures and symbols.
The correct answer is listed at number 3.
Answer: 3
Subject area: Social relations. Ethnic communities
One of the characteristics of a people as an ethnocultural community is
1) single citizenship
2) unity of beliefs
3) common social status
4) community of religion
Explanation.
By ethnocultural component we understand everything that contributes to the development of creative potential, gives a more complete understanding of the richness of the national culture, the way of life of the people, its history, language, literature, spiritual goals and values, which contributes to the development of a comprehensively developed harmonious personality, a patriot of his homeland , a highly moral person, tolerant of the peoples of world civilization.
The correct answer is listed at number 4.
Answer: 4
Subject area: Social relations. Ethnic communities
One of the main trends in the development of modern interethnic relations, associated with the gradual rapprochement of various peoples and nations in the economic, political, and spiritual spheres of society, is called
1) interethnic differentiation
2) international integration
3) cultural pluralism
4) interethnic conflict
Explanation.
Conflict is a clash of sides, opinions, forces.
Interethnic differentiation is a process of separation, separation, and confrontation between different nations, peoples, and ethnic groups.
International integration is a process of gradual rapprochement and unification of various ethnic groups and peoples through spheres of public life.
Cultural pluralism is the presence and simultaneous coexistence of different ethnic cultures within one national entity.
The correct answer is indicated under number: 2.
Answer: 2
Historical varieties of ethnic communities include
1) states
2) tribes
3) estates
4) denominations
Explanation.
An ethnic community is a historically established stable collection of people in a certain territory who have common features and stable characteristics of culture, language, mental makeup, self-awareness and historical memory, as well as awareness of their interests and goals, their unity, and differences from other similar entities.
Types of ethnic communities - clan, tribe, nationality, nation.
The state is a political-territorial sovereign organization of public power, which has a special apparatus for the purpose of carrying out administrative, provisional, protective functions and is capable of making its orders binding on the population of the entire country.
One of the ways to prevent ethnic conflicts in a democratic society is
1) consistent build-up of the state’s military potential
2) compact settlement of people of the same nationality within a multinational state
3) ensuring the rights and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of nationality
4) creation of nationally homogeneous states
Explanation.
The method of a democratic state is to ensure the rights and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of nationality. All other methods involve a violation of any human rights, such as movement, choice of place of residence, etc. Consistent build-up of the state’s military potential does not solve the problem at all.
The correct answer is indicated under number: 3.
Answer: 3
Subject area: Social relations. Interethnic relations, ethnosocial conflicts and ways to resolve them
