The National Policy of Russia in Cross-Border Zones. Ethnic Aspects of Social Technologies Research

The determination of methodologies for the identification of the relationship between existing national policies and ethnic processes is the aim of this article. The subject area is outlined by two cross-border zones of Russia (the Caucasus, the Altai-Sayan mountain region) with a characteristic multi-ethnic and multi-confessional composition of the population. The territorial framework is determined by national policy specifics in border areas; the policy is not directly related to the state structure forms and political regimes change. The study has chronological limits: the past two centuries. This period is determined by the orientation of the ethnic processes study. These processes are seen as ethnic and religious minorities' reactions to the national and foreign policies. The author of the article relies on historiographical sources devoted to the history of the Russian national policy and the cross-border zone population's ethnic history. The principles of a systematic approach (as a methodological basis) are attached to the natives' traditional social institutions genesis study. Three plots are considered. The first is devoted to the category of trans-border zones, the principles of their allocation and manifestation forms. The second plot is related to the problem of the border regime definition in areas of intensive intra-and inter-ethnic communications. The third plot is devoted to social technologies aimed at the ethno-social situation stabilization in border areas. Several working hypotheses based on the analysis were formed. The definition of border regimes (state security) is universal. This creates broad opportunities for comparative analysis of neighboring countries' national policies, on the one hand. On the other hand, the conditions for comparing the internal policies of the central and border areas are being formed. The low population density, length of borders, border disputes determined the national policy course specifics in the border areas. The preservation of state sovereignty on the basis of a stable ethno-social situation was a priority task of both foreign and national policy at all stages of Russia's historical development. This trend significantly reduces the possibility of chauvinism of the "titular ethnos" manifestation. The preservation of natives' traditional social institutions (clan organization, family, latent forms of self-government and legal proceedings) was allowed by the state in cases of loyalty of ethnic elites to the ongoing political course. National elites' integration into the social institutions of the state was the central trend of stability of state borders. Technologies for neutralizing conflict situations (military expeditions, deportations of minorities, changes in ethnic composition, etc.) in the border areas of Russia were focused on the internal policy of neighboring states. They were universal in their functions (features).