Nation-building mechanisms and correlation of identities: regional dimension (experience of the republics of Mari El and Mordovia, 2013–2019)

Abstract

Introduction. Nation-building is a long-term historical process that covers many areas, directions and levels. The complex composition of the Russian population and the federative structure actualize its regional dimension. The specifics and dynamics of this dimension are shown on the example of the Republics of Mari El and Mordovia, and their peoples who participated in the formation of the Russian State for centuries. The main tasks touch upon the characterization of regulatory options for the correlation of identities, content and vectors of discursive practices of national authorities, coupling mechanisms of nation-building from the perspective of identity politics to relate to the experience of both republics. Materials and Methods. The main sources were official documents of the Republic of Mari El and the Republic of Mordovia, materials that form the content of Republican Internet portals. The research was based on system, dialectical and institutional approaches, modernist constructivism and instrumentalism. The key methods are historical and diachronic, as well as multi-level and comparative analysis, and document study. Results and Discussion. The paper revealed constants and dominants of the experience of the republics of Mari El and Mordovia in the context of nation-building and identity politics. It defined dynamic changes in the period 2013–2019 and their correlation with the previous development of the Republics as Soviet autonomies and national-state entities within the Russian Federation. It emphasizes the main internal points for the specified period that demonstrate the adjustment of reference points in the ratio of identities. Conclusion. The experience of the Republics of Mari El and Mordovia in the studied perspective is evaluated as positive, but it testifies the maintenance of continuing limitations of the institutional plan both for the positioning of regional elites and for promoting effective mechanisms of nation-building at the regional level. The evolution of their practices is associated with a decrease in the value of ethnic capital as a political tool, reduction / elimination of attributes of post-Soviet strategies for sovereignization, and constructive activation of ethno-cultural organizations in Russian national projects.