Suchergebnisse

This chapter explores the positions of Russian minority groups (totaling 25 million individuals) in five countries that had been part of the Soviet Union: Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, & Kazakhstan. The Russians, who had considered themselves Soviets rather than Russians, have had to reconsider their national identification, & many have chosen Russian identity, not based on ethnic criteria, but rather on political, socioeconomic or cultural-linguistic terms. Their position in their current countries is affected by individual-level & contextual-level indicators of ethnic competition & assimilation, which were assessed via surveys conducted in urban areas with at least 10% Russians. Individual assimilation factors, in particular, Russian mixed marriages, tended to reduce Russian identification, & contextual ethnic competition factors to increase it, but a puzzling result was that larger proportions of Russian mixed marriage in a given area led to higher levels of Russian identification. Tables. J. Stanton

Examines the basic visual symbols that constitute the traditional elements of identity for the Russian state & former empire. The need for legitimation is a fundamental aspect of political leadership. Sources of legitimation include national myths & religion; dynastic succession, which played a major role in the Russian monarchy; the symbolic power of the capital city as the seat of political authority; history & tradition, whether accurate or mythical; & symbols of continuity & strength, such as the double-headed eagle, the continued worship of Stalin, & the observance of former Soviet state holidays. The author concludes that symbols play a vital role in maintaining national identity & social order. 45 References. J. R. Callahan