Symbolic boundaries of trust: «loyalty tests» in modern political systems

the article explores the phenomenon of «loyalty tests» as a mechanism of social control in modern political systems. The article analyzes the dual nature of these practices, which, on the one hand, contribute to the consolidation of society through the formation of a collective identity, and on the other, lead to its fragmentation by dividing it into the «loyal» and «disloyal». Two analytical models are presented. The first describes the five-stage procedure of testing: choice of object, conduct, evaluation, verdict, consequences, and the second presents the dynamics of testing through a system of binary oppositions: exclusion/inclusion, forced/voluntary. Particular attention is paid to the range of behavioral responses: from active conformism to conscious self-exclusion, as well as the unstable phenomenon of «silence», which is transformed under conditions of political pressure into hidden forms of resistance. The article shows how formal institutional procedures combine with informal practices of everyday interaction. In this way, it is possible to set up a comprehensive control system. The article also notes the limitations of the model's applicability in exceptional situations: cases of dual citizenship, border and occupied territories, conflict and post-conflict situations. The article outlines the promising areas for the further development of the concept. The practical significance of the study lies in a deeper understanding of the mechanisms for maintaining political order and transforming trusting relations in the context of modern socio-political challenges.

loyalty tests, symbolic space, political trust, loyalty, consolidation