Ethnicity, nations and nationalities. The essence and diversity of social communities of people
Family is what surrounds every person from the moment of birth. Having matured a little, the child learns about such concepts as nationality, nation. Over time, he begins to understand what clan and nation he belongs to, and gets acquainted with their culture. However, often both children and adults experience confusion between such similar terms as nationality, nation, ethnic group, tribe, clan. Although they are often considered synonymous, they have different meanings.
The meaning of the concept "ethnicity"
The word “ethnos” itself translated from Greek language means "people". Previously, this term meant a community of people united by blood.
Today the concept of ethnicity has become much broader.
Now ethnic groups are distinguished not only by kinship, but also by common territory of residence, language, culture and other factors.
Main types of ethnic groups
Clans, families, tribes, nationalities, nations are types of ethnic groups. At the same time they are also stages historical evolution ethnicity.
According to the hierarchy of ethnic groups, there are six types:
- family;
- clan;
- tribe;
- nationality;
- nation.
They all existed at some point historical period, but later changed under the influence of external and internal factors. At the same time, such types as clan, clan and tribe in a civilized society have long disappeared or remained as a tradition. In some places on the planet they still exist.
Most scientists believe that the most important stages in the development of an ethnic group are the tribe, nationality, and nation. This is due to the fact that these ethnic groups no longer depended on consanguinity; their commonality was based on cultural and economic grounds.
It is worth noting that sometimes modern scientists identify a seventh type of ethnos - an interethnic nation of citizens. It is believed that modern society is gradually moving towards this stage.
Family, clan and clan
The smallest ethnic community is the family (an association of people connected by blood ties). It is noteworthy that before the formation of such a social institution as the family, group marriage was common. In it, the relationship was traced from the mother, since it was almost impossible to establish who the father of a particular child was. did not last long, as incest and, as a consequence, degeneration became frequent.
To avoid this, over time, an ethnic community - a clan - was formed. The clans were formed on the basis of several families entering into a kinship union with each other. For a long time the tribal way of life was the most common. However, with the increase in the number of representatives of the clan, the danger of incest arose again, and “fresh” blood was required.
Clans began to form on the basis of clans. As a rule, they bore the name of either a famous founding ancestor or one revered as a patron and protector. Clans, as a rule, owned land, passed on by inheritance. Today, the clan system has been preserved as a tradition in Japan, Scotland and among some Indian tribes in South and North America.
By the way, the concept of “blood feud” became widespread precisely during the existence of this
Tribe
The above types of ethnic groups are quite small in the number of their representatives and were based on family ties. At the same time, a tribe, a nationality, a nation are larger and more developed ethnic groups.
Over time, ethnic groups based on blood kinship began to evolve into tribes. The tribe already included several clans and clans, so not all its members were relatives. In addition, with the development of tribes, society began to gradually divide into classes. Compared to clans and clans, tribes were very numerous.
Most often, tribes were united by the need to protect their territories from strangers, although over time they began to develop their own beliefs, traditions, and language.
In civilized society, tribes have long ceased to exist, but in many less developed cultures today they play main role(in Africa, Australia and Polynesia, on some tropical islands).
Nationality
At the next stage of evolution, which the ethnos (tribe, nationality, nation) underwent, states appeared. This was due to the fact that the number of members of the tribe was growing, in addition, the arrangement of this type of ethnic group was improving over the years. Closer to the period of the slave system, such a concept as nationality appeared.
Nationalities arose primarily not because of family ties or the need to protect their lands, but on the basis of an established culture, laws (appeared instead of tribal customs), and economic communities. In other words, a nationality differed from tribes in that it not only existed permanently on any territory, but could also create its own state.
Nation and nationality
The formation of a nation has become the next and most advanced stage in the evolution of an ethnos (tribe, nationality).
A nation is not just a grouping of people according to a common territory of residence, language of communication and culture, but also according to similar psychological characteristics as well as historical memory. A nation differs from a nationality in that its representatives were able to create a society with a developed economy, a system of trade relations, private property, law,
The concept of “nation” is associated with the emergence of nationality - belonging to or a state.
Throughout history, most nations have gone through all stages of the evolution of an ethnic group: family, clan, clan, tribe, nationality, nation. This contributed to the emergence of nations and countries known to everyone today.
It is noteworthy that, according to the ideology of fascism, there was a chosen nation, called upon to destroy all others over time. But, as practice has shown throughout history, any ethnic group degenerated without interaction with others. Therefore, if only purebred Aryans remained, then after a few generations the majority of representatives of this nation would suffer from numerous hereditary diseases.
There are ethnic groups that do not develop according to the general pattern (family, clan, tribe, nationality, nation) - the people of Israel, for example. So, despite the fact that the Jews called themselves a people, according to their structure they were a typical clan (common ancestor Abraham, blood relationship between all members). But at the same time, in just a few generations they managed to acquire the signs of a nation with a clear system of legal and economic relationships, and a little later they formed a state. However, at the same time they retained a clear clan system, which in rare cases allowed family ties with other nationalities. It is interesting that if Christianity had not arisen, dividing the Jews into two opposing camps, and also if their state had been destroyed and the people themselves had scattered, the Jews would have faced degeneration.
Today people live in a society made up of nations. Belonging to one of them determines not only a person’s thinking and consciousness, but also his standard of living. It is interesting that the most developed countries today are multinational, so the likelihood of an interethnic nation of citizens emerging is very high.
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 “foundation of life” of the 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, which have features external resemblance, 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 ethnic diversity countries with the proud name of Russia.
Ethnic communities include
3) marginalized
4) nationalities
Explanation.
Types of ethnic groups: clan, tribe, nationality, nation.
Answer: 4
What community are they typical for? the following features: features of language, culture, common historical memory?
1) professional
2) territorial
3) demographic
4) ethnic
Explanation.
Ethnicity - a group of people united common features: origin, language, culture, territory of residence, identity, etc.
The correct answer is 4, because. professional communities imply a single position in the labor system, territorial ones are characterized by state administrative formation, demographic ones by the age and sex characteristics of individuals, and ethnic ones 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 include in these signs origin, language, culture, territory of residence, identity, etc. Signs:
Firstly, this is the language of a given nation, nationality, as main tool communication, 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 creative possibilities, gives a more complete picture of wealth national culture, the way of life of the people, their history, language, literature, spiritual goals and values, which contributes to the development of a comprehensively developed harmonious personality, a patriot of their 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 various peoples and nations in the economic, political, 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
Subject of ethnosociology. Types of ethnic groups - tribe, nationality, nation. Signs of a nation.
Ethnic communities occupy a prominent place in social life. Ethnos - is a historically established stable set of people who have general features and cultural characteristics, social psychology, ethnic identity. The external form of expression of an ethnic group is ethnonym , ᴛ.ᴇ. self-name (Russians, Germans).
Ethnic communities are also called consanguineous . These include clans, tribes, nationalities, nations, families, and clans.
Family- the smallest consanguineous group of people related by common origin (grandmother, grandfather, father, mother, children).
Several families entering into an alliance form genus. Clans were united into clans
Clan- a group of blood relatives bearing the name of an alleged ancestor. The clan maintained common ownership of the land, blood feud, mutual responsibility. As relics of primitive times, they remained in some areas of Scotland, among the American Indians, in Japan and China. Several clans united to form tribe.
Tribe- more high shape organizations covering big number genera and clans. Tribes have their own language or dialect, territory, formal organization (chief, tribal council), and common ceremonies. Their number reached tens of thousands of people.
In the course of further cultural and economic development, the tribes were transformed into nationalities, and those - at higher stages of development - in the nation.
Nationality- ethnic community occupying the stairs social development place between tribes and nation. Nationalities emerge during the era of slavery and represent a linguistic, territorial, economic and cultural community. A nation is larger in number than a tribe; consanguineous ties do not cover the entire nation; their significance is not so great.
Nation- an autonomous political grouping not limited by territorial boundaries, whose members are committed to common values and institutions. Representatives of one nation no longer have a common ancestor and common origin. They don't have to have mutual language, religion.
So, the following ethnic communities have emerged in history: tribe, nationality and nation.
Prerequisite The formation of an ethnic group is a common territory, which creates conditions for close communication and unification of people. At the same time, diasporas (dispersion) are then formed, although ethnic groups retain their identity. Another important condition for the formation of an ethnic group is a common language. But highest value has a unity of spiritual culture, values, norms, patterns of behavior, traditions and associated socio-psychological characteristics of consciousness.
Ethnic groups self-replicate through internal marriages and through socialization and the creation of national statehood. In other words, society is individuals taken in stable, regular and institutionalized connections and interactions. Οʜᴎ united unified system social institutions and communities that provide satisfaction vital interests of people.
Subject of ethnosociology. Types of ethnic groups - tribe, nationality, nation. Signs of a nation. - concept and types. Classification and features of the category "Subject of ethnosociology. Types of ethnic groups - tribe, nationality, nation. Signs of a nation." 2017, 2018.
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 strategies national policy and offer something new without deciding 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 such fundamental concepts for sociology as ethnicity, 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 an 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 about his common origin with members of the ethnic group.
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 gains high degree 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 way to a nation can be considered 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 state, the nation 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 such a capacious concept as the Russian “people”, which could designate a huge mass of ethnically heterogeneous population united common goals, general history.
Nation- a social unit that expresses the political unity of individuals living in the same state. The 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 identity (ethnic, cultural, even religious) and creates an artificial formation within the state. When a nation is created, as a rule, the linguistic difference between ethnic groups, and the language of one is the most numerous ethnic groups 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 accepted in the world scientific community this term. 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 destroyed cultural code ethnic group, the system of meanings and values that helped members of the community to exist and “fight for a 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, despite its diversity, could unite on the basis of common historical path, common values and a common national 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. Historical experience Russia has built ethnically diverse empires. Moreover, this experience can be considered successful despite all military, economic and cultural achievements single Russian people, starting from the multi-ethnic Russian kingdom, ending with the communist empire of the USSR.