In this article, which was compiled with financial support from a Russian Federation presidential grant for supporting young scientists (grant MK-2488.2019.6), examines the regional specifics of developing civil society values in one of Russia’s subjects – the Kabardha-Balkar Republic. The issues and specifics of developing a civil society is one of the most relevant topics for social sciences in modern-day Russia. There are still arguments to this day between those who support European integration and joining the Western world and advocates of Russia being its own civilization. Our country’s socio-cultural characteristics imply significant regional diversity in the development of a civil society. Expert reports prepared by various research centers note that civil society values tend to be more prominent in the country’s more economically developed regions. Citizens create and actively partake in the activities of public organizations, they propagate charity work, and actively protect their own rights. Meanwhile in the less advanced regions, civil society is not as well developed. In this article, the author examines the issues in question based on the example of one of Russia’s regions which possesses its own substantial cultural specificity. The methodological underpinnings for the study are based on a systemic and interdisciplinary approach. The study was conducted by means of questionnaire survey method. The sample size amounted to 550 people. In terms of geography, all municipalities of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic were covered, including remote and hard to reach highland areas (Chereksky, Zolsky, Elbrussky districts). During the study, it was revealed that residents of Kabardino-Balkaria would more often resort to assistance from their relatives or to corrupt dealings in order to solve their problems. At the same time help from public organizations, law enforcement and the judicial system are sought after by a much smaller proportion of citizens, which might speak to the population bearing a relatively low level of legal awareness. Despite the fact that the republic’s youth came of age in post-Soviet Russia, which was being modeled after democratic nations, this socio-demographical population group demonstrates a higher level of social apathy and disapproval for civil society values than the region’s population does on average.

sociology, Kabardha-Balkar Republic, civil society, values, youth, legal awareness, corruption, social apathy, citizen activism

Atlaskirov A.R. Non-profit organizations in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic: development dynamics and structure. Sotsiodinamika = Sociodynamics,2018: 5: 36–43 (In Russ.). DOI: 10.25136/2409-7144.2018.5.26196

Atlaskirov A.R. Regional specifics and problems of the development of civil society in modern Russia (based on the materials of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic). Sotsiodinamika = Sociodynamics, 2018: 3: 78–86 (In Russ.). DOI: 10.25136 / 2409-7144.2018.3.25670.

Banfield B.C. The Moral Basis of a Backward Society. Chicago, 1958: 204.

Dzhantueva F.R. Models of the development of civil society institutions in a multinational region (on the example of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic). Vestnik SOGU imeni K.L. Khetagurova = Bulletin of the North Ossetian State University named after K.L. Khetagurov,2010: 4: 7–10 (In Russ.).

Galitsky V.P., Starshinov Y.V. Religious extremism in the youth of Russia. Obozrevatel = Observer, 2010: 6 (245): 15–25 (In Russ.).

Gnatiuk M.A. Russian youth in the context of globalization: features of socialization and the formation of labor values. Humanitarian of the South of Russia, 2016: Vol. 17: 1: 219–228 (In Russ.).

Gorshkov M.K., Sheregi F.E. Value orientations, moral attitudes and civic engagement of youth. Monitoring obschestvennogo mneniya: economicheskiye i sotsialnye peremeny = Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes, 2010: 1 (95): 5–36 (In Russ.).

Gorshkov M.K., Sheregi F.E. Youth of Russia: a sociological portrait. Moscow, CSPIM, 2010: 592 (In Russ.).

Gramsci A. Selected Works: in 3 vols. Vol. 3. Moscow, Foreign Literature publ., 1959: 561 (In Russ.).

Gugova M.H. The Formation of Civil Society Institutions in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic at the End of the XX – Beginning of the XXI Century. In: Patriotism and Civil Everyday Life in the Life of Russian Society (XVIII–XXIth cent.). Ed. by V.N. Skvortsova. Nalchik, 2013: 243–247 (In Russ.).

Guppoev T.B., Shogenov M.Z. Problems and prospects of participation of civil society institutions in ensuring the quality of the provision of state social services. Vestnik Expertnogo soveta = Expert Council Bulletin,2018: 3 (14): 95–102 (In Russ.).

Hegel G. Philosophy of Law. Moscow, Mysl, 1991:524 (In Russ.).

Huntington S. The Clash of Civilizations. Moscow, AST, Astrel, 2011 (In Russ.).

Khomiakov A.S. Complete Works. Moscow, 1904 (In Russ.).

Kuznetsov D.O. Civil socialization of modern Russian youth: factors and risks. Vestnik Severo-Kavkazskogo federal’nogo universiteta = Bulletin of the North Caucasus Federal University, 2015: 1 (46): 258–262 (In Russ.).

Levin I.B. Civil society in the West and in Russia. Policy. Politicheskie Issledovanija = Political Studies, 1996: 5: 107–119 (In Russ.).

Lisovsky Y.P. Southern Problem and social conflicts in Italy. Moscow, 1979: 368 (In Russ.)

Locke J. Compositions in 3 vols. Moscow, 1988: 668 (In Russ.).

Ovakimian M.S., Legkostupova D.A.[Features of the development of the North and South of Italy. Gorizonty Economiki = Economic Horizons,2018: 6 (46): 94–99 (In Russ.)

Panarin A.S.Global Information Society: Challenges and Responses. Vlast = Power, 2001: 1 (In Russ.).

Podyachev K.V., Khaliy I.A. The State Youth Policy in Contemporary Russia: Concept and Realities. Vestnik RUDN. Serija: Sotsiologiya = RUDN Journal of Sociology, 2020: Vol. 20: 2: 263–276. DOI: 10.22363/2313-2272-2020-20-2-263-276 (In Russ.).

Putnam R. Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. New York, 1993: 247.

Russia and the West: what separates?. Ed. by I.A. Yakunin. Issue 7 (16). Moscow, Scientific expert, 2009: 160 p. (In Russ.).

Savitsky P.N. The Continent of Eurasia. Moscow, Agraf, 1997: 334 (In Russ.).

Tetuev A.I. Ethnopolitical processes in Kabardino-Balkaria during the period of systemic transformation of Russian society: features and main trends. Nalchik, Academic Council of the Institute for Humanitarian Research KBSC RAS, 2018 (In Russ.).

Tetuev A.I. The influence of civil society institutions on ethno-political processes during the period of systemic transformation of Russian society (based on the materials of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia). Vestnik Instituta istorii, arkheologii i ethnographii = Bulletin of the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography, 2017: 3 (51): 140–151 (In Russ.).

The history of a centuries-old community: On the 450th anniversary of the union and unity of the peoples of Kabardino-Balkaria and Russia. Ed. by B.H. Bgazhnokov. Nalchik,M. & V. Kotliarov publ., 2007: 720 (In Russ.).

Tikhonova N.E. The social structure of Russia: theory and reality. Moscow, Novy Khronograph; IS RAS publ., 2014:408 (In Russ.).

Tsymbursky V.L.An open society or new goals for Europe. Politicheskie Issledovanija = Political Studies, 1992: 5–6: 114–122 (In Russ.).

Varshavskaya E.J., Stuken T.Y. Russian youth outside the sphere of employment and education: an analysis of regional differentiation. Region: Economika i Sotsiologiya = Region: Economics and Sociology,2017: 1 (93): 121–141 (In Russ.).

Voytovich V.Y. Local government – the constitutional and legal basis for the formation of civil society in Russia. Vestnik Udmurtskogo universiteta. Seriya «Economika i pravo» = Bulletin of the University of Udmurtia. Series Economics and Law,2005: 1: 3–21 (In Russ.).

Volodin A.G. Civil society and modernization in Russia. Sources and contemporary issues. Politicheskie Issledovanija = Political Studies, 2000: 3: 104–116 (In Russ.).

Yakimova T.B. Non-profit organizations as the main institute of civil society in Russia. Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta = Bulletin of Tomsk State Pedagogical University,2013: 12 (140): 116–119 (In Russ.).

Zakhokhova M.R., Khanova M.N., Chemaev N.A., Shogenova F.Z., Lokova M.Y. Problems and contradictions in the development of modern youth associations in the region. Uspekhi sovremennoy nauki = Successes of contemporary science,2017: vol. 7: 1: 9–14 (In Russ.).

Zubok J.A. Youth: life strategies in a new reality. Monitoring obschestvennogo mneniya: economicheskiye i sotsialnyye peremeny = Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes, 2020: 3: 4–12 (In Russ.).