Vol 23, No 2 (2023)
Articles
The specifi cs of Saratov youth communication practices in social and virtual space
Abstract
The article present the results of sociological monitoring conducted by the method of questioning in Saratov in 2022. According to the probabilistic quota-territorial sample, 698 young Saratov residents were interviewed. The results were processed in the SPSS program. The study showed that communication takes the fi fth place among the values of young people (after health, family, friendship and freedom). In the perceptions of young people, the most eff ective channel of communication is real "live" direct communication. They trust it the most. However, in practice, virtual electronically mediated intermediaries dominate. The more communication is valued, the more young people communicate using the Internet and mobile phones. The majority of young people (55.5%) are satisfi ed with the time of their communicative processes, which are synthetic by nature, where eff ective live communication of young people is relatively successfully complemented by telephone communication, but the eff ectiveness of Internet communications is assessed by them ambiguously. Peers are the main communicators for most young people. However, in the course of time, they need to share experience with younger ones and the circle of communicators increases. The oldest category of young people communicates more often and, at the same time, communicates more often than others by the phone and the Internet. Mutual empathy is the basis for the emergence of stable communicative processes in the youth environment. At the same time, sincerity is especially important for those who communicate directly. For those who communicate by the phone, openness, stability and common interests of hobbies are more important. It is of interest that, in the course of time, the importance of such qualities as selfl essness, stability and general experience of the events increases, but the role of sincerity, intimacy, attentiveness, common interests, sincerity of conversation, the opportunity to get advice or support in diffi cult times decreases. Several barriers for communication of young people have been identifi ed: problems of socio-territorial space; the inertia of inclusion, (the communicator's concern about other problems); anticipation to other people's thoughts, alexithymia (emotional coldness), stereotyping, ambition; rejection - the incompetent invasion of the communicator into the personal space of the recipient; loss of confi dence in the interlocutor.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):124-137
124-137
Contemporary youth family values
Abstract
The problem of value orientations of the younger generation, including family values, attracts considerable attention of researchers, since they form the core of values of young people, occupying leading positions in the structure of basic value orientations. A certain type of relationship and upbringing is built within the family circle where traditions and life experience are passed on. The study of family values of young people seems to be an urgent task in the context of ongoing socio-economic and political changes in Russian society and the transformation of family values of contemporary youth. The article, on basis of the results of the author's sociological research (2018–2019, 2020, 2020, 2023), reveals the dynamics of basic family values among the youth of Russian regions and considers family traditions, attitudes to marriage, the birth of children and the motives for creating a family. The research materials indicate the importance of the family in the structure of the basic values of young respondents. Despite the fears of a crisis of marriage and family, expressed in the absence of the need for offi cial registration of relations, postponement of the appearance of the fi rstborn, changing the traditions of the family from basic to modern ones, the respondents still demonstrate a desire to formalize the relationship in future and aim having the fi rstborn. At the same time, young respondents are primarily looking for emotional connection, comfort, support and love in their future life partner. Young people plan to achieve fi nancial stability and be confi dent in the future before becoming parents. The current socio-economic state of Russian society needs to preserve the institution of family and marriage with traditional family values.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):138-142
138-142
Ethnic identity of the student youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan: A sociological analysis
Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of the ethnic identity of the student youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of ethnic identity among modern students of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The empirical material of the study is based on the results of the sociological survey of students conducted in 2022 by the Russian Society of Sociologists in different regions of Russia, including the Republic of Bashkortostan. The ethnic demographic features of the Republic of Bashkortostan are determined and the polyethnic nature of interethnic relations in the region is established. The manifestation of the aff ective aspect and the cognitive aspect of ethnic identity in the student youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan are considered. According to the results of the study, it was revealed how the student youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan determines their ethnic identity, how much the nationality of the mother and father aff ects the ethnic identity of the student youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The article analyzes how the structure of the student youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan by nationality, established by the results of self-identifi cation of youth in a sociological survey, diff ers from the results of the All-Russian Population Census of 2020 with data on the national composition of the population of the Republic of Bashkortostan as a whole. The level of tolerance of students to the representatives of other nationalities was established, and the infl uence of the nationality factor on the communication of young people with other people was determined. The linguistic and confessional aspects of the studied issue are partially touched upon as ethnic diff erentiating signs of the cognitive aspect of ethnic identity. The positive ethnic identity of the student youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan was revealed as the dominant type. It is established that the student youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan demonstrates a high level of tolerance to representatives of other nationalities and does not consider the factor of nationality as a determining factor when choosing preferences in interpersonal communication.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):143-150
143-150
Educational strategies of Saratov State University students: Gender cross-section
Abstract
The article is based on the results of the sociological study (N = 400 respondents), conducted by the questionnaire method and shows that the gender identity of the students significantly determines their educational strategy of behavior and study. There is a strong gender asymmetry between humanitarian and technical specialties. However, the strategic goals of education depend on gender. Young men are more concerned with getting a prestigious high-paying job and meeting the requirements of their parents. Among young men, it is more common to fi nd a cautious admission that they like learning only in general, or rather do not like it. The girls are more dependent on the opinions of others and more focused on obtaining a diploma and self-development. Academic performance is also higher among female students than among male ones. The girls are more likely to strive to be the best in the group, and the boys prefer their interests to study more often. The girls are more categorical in their both positive and negative assessments of their studies. The proportion of those who like to learn is the highest among the girls. The attitudes toward learning largely depend on students' personal educational strategies. Students who entered the university for the sake of self-development have the highest interest in studying. Those who study for the sake of a prestigious job in future take the second place (although not so categorically). The interest in learning is almost non-existent among those who study to meet the expectations of society and relatives. The proportion of girls enrolled in the master`s degree is higher than among boys. The young men take the master`s degree mainly for a full higher education, for the sake of future work and because of disappointment in the education system, while the girls do it for additional education and because of uncertainty about future employment.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):151-157
151-157
Social conflict in the sphere of public administration: Information and communication technologies of their resolution
Abstract
The article is devoted to the problem of managing social confl icts in public administration. The issues of improving communication skills and information support for management decision-making are considered. A confl ict is a constant phenomenon of modern life and quite naturally many confl ict situations take place in the sphere of public administration. This is due to a variety of views, diff erences of opinions and confl icting interests. Disagreements between employees of government bodies, their opinions or views on management problems are inevitable. The failure to respond to or stop these confl icts before full deployment reduces system performance and the amount of public services provided. To eff ectively respond to confl icts, government offi cials need new knowledge and access to new resolution tools. It is necessary to build a confl ictmodel that will allow to analyze its essence and trace the optimal directions of its resolution. It is important to reach an abstract model. Therefore, today many theoretical and methodological surveys lie in the plane of building a common confl ict model in public administration. One of the ways of such a combination can be to compile an algorithm for handling confl ict situations in the fi eld of management based on the confl ict database. The database should contain information about the causes of confl icts, methods of their settlement, positive and negative consequences of the confl ict, the results of a constructive confl ict, signals indicating the presence of a confl ict, recommendations for resolving the confl ict. Accurate identifi cation and correct use of new information solutions gives employees the opportunity to properly approach confl icts, which will certainly contribute to improving the image of public administration.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):158-162
158-162
Management of the organizational culture of a modern military team development
Abstract
The article presents the analysis of theoretical approaches to the essence of managing the development of organizational culture of a modern military team. Military organizational culture is revealed as a complex of cultural values, norms, beliefs of military personnel, a managerial factor of transformation of professional changes in the modern military team. The specifi cs of the subject (military administration) and the object (members of the military collective) of management are substantiated, the integrated approach of the essential characteristics of the process of managing the development of the organizational culture of the military collective is revealed. As a result of the analysis of the sociological survey data, the characteristics of this phenomenon are clarifi ed as a purposeful organizational, project, controlling activity of the military administration to ensure the reproduction of military organizational culture, the achievement of its stabilization, as well as progressive development. It is proved that the management of the development of the organizational culture of the military collective presupposes the achievement of a targeted qualitative renewal of the external symbols of the military collective, as well as the prevailing values, needs, ideals, traditions, norms of behavior of military actors. Management design of innovative norms, values, principles of interaction of military personnel is designed to allow not only to form an initiative military actor of a leadership type, but also to provide prerequisites for the transition to an innovative organizational culture of military teams. It is proved that the management of the development of the organizational culture of the military collective has several forms of manifestation: 1) as a dual complex within the framework of the general management system of a military organization; 2) as a mechanism aimed at, on the one hand, at ensuring the stabilization of organizational culture and, on the other hand, at its expanded reproduction; 3) as a subsystem of social management (federal, regional, internal-military-organizational; 4) as a management process itself. In a generalized context, the management of the development of organizational culture is a component of the overall system of integrated targeted management of a military unit as a whole, which determines, among other things, the optimization of its organizational culture. Within the framework of this management, management subsystems can be distinguished in the form of separate socio-cultural projects. Educational activity with this approach should be considered as a means to ensure the achievement of the development of the organizational culture of the military unit.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):163-170
163-170
On the issue of digital socialization
Abstract
The article presents the reflection on the digital socialization. It is noted that the dynamics of actor socialization in the conditions of digitalization is due to information «challenges» that form a conscious desire to master social experience through online contexts, regardless the social actors` age. The multidimensionality of scientifi c research in the context of socially signifi cant projects, such as, the Gutenberg Project, successfully implemented by Michael Hart; the project of the Columbia Center for Oral History (CCOH), containing an Archive of oral history, numbering more than 12,000 interviews and documentary artifacts; the project of the Russian Foundation «Oral History», which collects and makes available to society conversations on science, culture and everyday life of the twentieth century. The description of the most productive project, according to the author, «Why We Post» («Why We Post in Social Networks»), implemented by the team of anthropologists led by Daniel Miller (the researchers from London University College conducted fi eld work in eight countries of the world for fi fteen months and studied how social media works) is presented. The conclusion is substantiated that it is necessary to conduct fi eld studies of the Network based on the intellectual tradition of studying both sociality and communication, which is an obvious basis for studying social networks and digital socialization, which forms identities through the use of the Internet.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):171-173
171-173
The causes of social and labor conflicts in the fi re service divisions
Abstract
. The article reveals the problem of social and labor confl icts in the units of the fi re service. The theoretical basis of the study was the classical postulates on the nature of social contradictions and the role of confl icts in everyday practices of the service team, proposed within the structural-functional approach by G. Simmel and R. Darendorff . The article is based on the results of the author's study of social and labor confl icts in one of the fi re and rescue units of Saratov region. The paper analyzed the problems that provoke social and labor confl icts, such as: living conditions at work (poorly functioning common areas, lack of suffi cient sleeping space, problems with maintaining a comfortable temperature in the rooms); unfair distribution of uniforms, means of personal consumption; poor material provision of the unit (broken equipment, insuffi cient provision of protective equipment); shifting responsibility for equipment repair from unit management to staff and civilian personnel, inconsistency of assignments with job duties; unfair distribution of workload; violation of safety requirements when fi ghting fi res; ignorance of rules necessary for fi re and rescue work; non-compliance with work and rest regimes; low level of discipline; personal animosity; team leadership style (yelling, disrespectful attitude, rudeness of the superiors towards the subordinates); psychological incompatibility in the guardhouse; constant stressful situations in the workplace; diff erent perceptions of their work on the part of young and middle-aged and older staff ; the nature of the staff ; the use of property and equipment by other units in fi re and rescue work (breakage, loss). In the course of the questionnaire survey and the results of the interview the author found out the main reasons of the confl ict situations inside the guard-house, marked the problem areas potentially able to raise the latent situation of dissatisfaction of the personnel to the level of open confl ict.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):174-179
174-179
Value orientations of youth and regional security
Abstract
The article analyzes results of an online survey (N = 2021) of young people (aged from 14 to 35 years) living in the Saratov region. The author summarizes answers related to the respondents’ value orientation. It is concluded that the value identifi cation and orientation of young people are infl uenced by the safe conditions of functioning of regional society, as well as global political events. In the view of young people, the values of patriotism and collectivism fade into the background, material well-being comes fi rst, this contributes to the outfl ow of young people from the province to more prosperous cities and regions, which creates a lack of population reproduction potential in the region. In turn, this creates demographic problems and the replacement of the indigenous population by migrants who are not culturally adapted to local conditions. The polar worldview of young people is also revealed in relation to the special military operation, where positive and negative opinions are almost equal. In the structure of regional security, regional threats are clarifi ed, to which the author refers destructive political activity of young people, uncertainty about the future, outfl ow of young people from the region, uncontrolled migration to the region of citizens of other states, corruption of local offi cials, and low socio-qualitative potential of the region.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):180-189
180-189
Features of interpretations of state ideology within scholarly discourse of modern Russia
Abstract
Within the framework of this article, the main problems associated with the actualization in domestic social science of scientifi c research on various aspects of the functioning of political ideologies in modern Russia are considered. The author states that for the last year in the subject fi eld of researchers there have been widely discussed such issues as problems of theoretical and methodological foundations for the analysis of ideologies and their role in shaping the worldview of various age groups, constitutional context of functionality of ideologies in Russian politics, imperial tendencies in the ideological and worldview space of Russia, signifi cance of ideologies in socio-political communications, and a number of other important aspects. The author pays main attention to analysis of the changes that have occurred recently in domestic scientifi c discourse in the interpretation of state ideology, discussions about the expediency and possibility of its adoption, about its value core, about its applied signifi cance in the process of political socialization, and other aspects. Based on the analysis, it was concluded that the majority of supporters of development and normative consolidation of the state ideology underestimate the fact that in modern Russia there are no legal, political, socioeconomic, and socio-cultural prerequisites for this. Nevertheless, in the context of a hybrid war between the United States and its allies against Russia, the public’s awareness of a very real deadly external danger to the country becomes crucial. In author’s opinion, there is not only an objective need, but also the possibility of reaching a consensus on this issue of all the leading political forces in Russia, res ponsible for its fate to future generations. Such public consent of the leading Russian political parties does not require a radical revision of the current Constitution of the Russian Federation and can be adopted in the form of a memorandum, declaration, or any other form that does not claim to be a state ideology.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):190-195
190-195
Political discourse of health and ideological attitudes of Russian citizens
Abstract
Health is declared by citizens as one of the most important values, which makes it possible to address this topic within the framework of political discourse in order to achieve political goals. At the same time, the study of the manifestation and impact of the political discourse of health on the attitude of individual citizens and social groups to the sphere of health remains an understudied area of political science. A healthy lifestyle and health literacy were not included in the list of traditional values, although the topics of “health of the nation” and “health of citizens” are widely represented in public and political discourse. Political discourse, with the right emphasis, can have an impact on citizens’ attitudes towards health. It is possible to reveal this potential by determining the worldview features of the multicultural, socially diff erentiated population of Russia and taking them into account in the framework of political discourse and social policy. As the main methodology for studying the impact of various information channels, in which political discourse is presented, on worldview attitudes in relation to health, the concept of the sociocultural code of the health sector can be used, which opens up the possibility of developing ways for eff ective interaction with citizens, including the presentation of information by government offi cials and placement of accents, aimed at correcting the attitude of the population to their health.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):196-201
196-201
Possibilities of historical institutionalism in the study of the organization of local self-government in Russia
Abstract
This article considers the possibility of applying the methodology of historical institutionalism in the study of the evolution of the institute of local self-government in Russia. The institute of local self-government in Russia has a rich history and has existed for quite a long time in the context of historical existence of the state, which has undergone a number of signifi cant cardinal changes in its history. The process of transformation and development of the institute in historical dynamics is inherent, including fundamental changes, accompanied by subsequent revision of various aspects of local government functioning. Over time and depending on the existing state structure, the attitude towards the institution of local government, the set of its functions and responsibilities, the breadth of powers assigned to local governments and their status changed, as demonstrated by the study of the peculiarities of local government institution organization in the late imperial, Soviet and contemporary periods. Despite these processes and the constant need to adapt to new conditions of the institutional environment, the purpose of existence of the institution of local government has remained the same. At the same time, during the evolution of the institution of local self-government, the trajectory of previous development plays a signifi cant role, the study of which allows the full implementation of historically established positive practices. Historical institutionalism, in turn, appears to be a promising approach in the study of political phenomena and processes with a longitudinal eff ect, in particular, in the study of the specifi cs of the organisation of the institution of local self-government in Russia.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):202-207
202-207
Reflection of the concept of the “Russian threat” in the military doctrinal documents of the Baltic States
Abstract
It is shown that the fundamental principles of military policy are concretized in documents under the integrative name “military-doctrinal document”. It is often referred to as the theoretical core of military policy. A methodology has been developed for studying military-doctrinal documents of foreign states in the context of the “Russian threat”. The methodology is based on the PEST analysis method with the addition of a military aspect to it. Given its lack of development, the essential content of such categories as “military sphere”, “military factor”, “military activity” is analyzed in order to clarify and isolate the components of the military aspect. The essential content of the military aspect is proposed. Analysis of the content of military-doctrinal documents is also based on a frequency-ranked linguistic analysis, which is preceded by lemmatization. Based on the proposed methodology, the refl ection of the “Russian threat” in the military-doctrinal documents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is analyzed. For a better visual perception of the analysis results, a word cloud was used. An integrative analysis of the military-doctrinal documents of the Baltic States regarding the concept of “Russian threat” was carried out. The frequency distribution of dominant lexemes is constructed on the basis of an integrative analysis of the military-doctrinal documents of the Baltic States.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):208-220
208-220
The language policy of Switzerland within the federalism environment
Abstract
Modern plural societies characterized by ethno-cultural diversity are forming demand for eff ective balance of inter-group relations. The institutionalization of language policy is becoming the way of inter-ethnic relations regulation. The problem of language policy implementation is the relevance in modern European federations, the boundaries of which are overlap on the boundaries of the linguistic communities’ residence. In such cases the language policy of the federal center includes the impact on the federal and regional authorities’ relations. Switzerland is the research interest as one of the most decentralized federations in Europe. The compact residence of four linguistic communities’ impact on the institutional foundations of the federal structure. The existing interaction of models between central authorities and cantons requires consideration as a tool for normalizing and infl uencing relations in plural societies. In this article the authors consider the infl uence of federalism and federal principles on development of language policy. The article reveals the regulatory framework of Swiss federalism, its institutional foundations, which impact on regulation of the language regime, both at the federal and regional levels. Based on the statistical data, an assessment is made of the language situations in the monolingual and bilingual cantons. The authors capture the main principles of the Swiss language regime. The principles of equality of languages, free language choice for the regions and the formal consolidation of languages’ territoriality as the basis for the stability of the Swiss model of federalism. It is concluded that federalism observed the harmonization of the language situation due to division of federal and regional powers.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):221-226
221-226
Trust, distrust and fake news in the process of political legitimization
Abstract
The article examines influence of factors of trust, distrust, and fake news on the level of legitimacy of state power and decisions taken. The position of the authors who establish a clear correlation between the level of legitimacy of the government and the level of development of its democratic institutions is disputed. The legitimacy of power is based on the assessment of the conformity of the position of authority and decisions made to the image of power formed in the civil consciousness and shared ideological positions. The dual nature of legitimacy is noted: in accordance with the defi nition of D. Easton, diff use and specifi c types of legitimacy are distinguished. The types of legitimacy diff er in terms of the dynamics of changes in their level, plasticity, principles of formation and strengthening. Diff use legitimacy is based on the concept of trust. Actualization of positions and assessments of participants in the political process takes place through political communications. Changes in the communication sphere of politics, dictated by the revolutionary development of the Internet technologies, necessitate a qualitative reassessment of the role of factors of trust and distrust in the process of communication between the government and society. Trust and distrust should be considered as autonomous political phenomena that have both a positive and negative impact on the level of legitimacy. Fake news is becoming an irremediable «tax» on political communications between the government and society. The specifi cs of their formation and dissemination, as well as the goals pursued by the authors of fake news, go beyond the scope of political regulation, therefore, the main work to combat their negative eff ects should be focused not on refuting or blocking news, but on the formation of universal media literacy.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):227-234
227-234
International political aspects of countering discrimination sports sanctions against the Russian Federation after the 2014 Olympic games
Abstract
The article examines political aspects of the development of the doping scandal in international sports, which began after the 2014 Olympic Games. The accusations made against the Russian Federation for creating and supporting an institutionalized system of doping use point to the unprecedented nature of the information company. Despite the obvious political background of the doping scandal and the noticeable fl aws of the charges, Russian sports functionaries were unable to fully exploit the potential of the political information counteraction company. The imperfections of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the infl uence of political interests on sports are considered. The main directions for preventing the infl uence of political aspects of various countries on the activities of the IOC in the fi eld of sports are revealed. Ways are proposed for the unifi cation of international regulation of law enforcement in the activities of international institutions for the development of world sports. Solutions are proposed under which it is possible to consolidate international political eff orts to develop mutually benefi cial conditions for the development of the international Olympic movement and improve the global political climate of sports diplomacy.
Izvestia of Saratov University. New series. Series: Sociology. Politology. 2023;23(2):235-240
235-240