NATIONAL IDENTITY IN RUSSIA: HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY ASPECTS

The contribution is devoted to the development of national identity in Russia nowadays. First, it outlines the development of European identity within the European Union and in modern Europe. Second, it gives a historical review of national identity development in the Russian Empire and in the USSR. Third, the report focuses on the analysis of contemporary process of development of national mentality among the citizens of the multinational Russian Federation. The author refers to the data of sociological research held by various Russian sociological and political centres. The research presents different age and social groups' internal and external images of Russia. It highlights the development of national feelings among the young people (comparing tolerance of Moscow State University and Oryol State University students). The report also touches upon the question of Russia's "special character" and "special way" in modern world in the context of national and civilizational identity.