The article examines views on the issue of preserving and reproducing ethnocultural diversity in the context of multicultural regions in Southern Russia, within the framework of the perception of the implementation of the state's national policy in the categories of social justice in interethnic relations. The authors consider this issue within the discourse of public policy and the everyday perception of ethnic groups residing in Southern Russia. The article is based on materials from exploratory sociological research conducted through questionnaire surveys of the population in the regions of Southern Russia, focus groups, and in-depth interviews with experts in the field of implementing the state's national policy (government officials, scholars, researchers, diaspora representatives). The research covered five regions of Southern Russia (Rostov Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, Republic of Kalmykia, Republic of Crimea, Karachay-Cherkess Republic).

The article analyses perceptions of ethnocultural diversity in the context of justice in interethnic relations at the regional level. It also explores the connection between identification and socio-psychological characteristics (subjective assessments of violations of rights based on nationality) and the conviction of ethnic groups regarding the observance of justice while preserving the cultural diversity of their people in the region of residence (culture, language, and the development of ethnocultural infrastructure).

The conducted analysis reveals that issues related to the preservation and development of ethnocultural diversity hold a prominent position in the population's views in the Southern Russian regions regarding the fair regulation of interethnic relations. Points of contention that translate social tension into interethnic tension often revolve around questions of historical memory linked to various forms of ethnic-based deprivation. It is established that the demand for the reproduction of ethnocultural diversity in the regions of Southern Russia is determined by the subjective experience of perceiving violations of rights based on nationality, assessments of justice in managing interethnic relations by the state, and the respondent's type of identity. The core understanding of justice for ethnic groups is linked to sociocultural aspects, and their demand for preserving culture, language, and traditions, regardless of their region of residence, is associated with concerns about their potential loss.

justice, ethnocultural diversity, peoples of Southern Russia, ethnic culture, languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation, interethnic relations

1. Avksentiev V. A., Aksyumov B. V., Gritsenko G. D. et al. Consolidating trends and historical traumas in the North Caucasian scientific discourse. In Historical and ethno-cultural topics in the educational, scientific and socio-political discourse of the North Caucasus. Ed. by V. A. Tishkov; comp. B. A. Sinanov, V. V. Tishkov. Moscow, IEA RAN, 2021: 52–54 (in Russ.). EDN: ACUBNW.
2.  Aksyumov B. V., Khachatryan L. V. Formation of Russian Civilizational Identity in the Context of Ethnocultural Diversity. Nauchnaya mysl' Kavkaza, 2018: 4 (96): 22–26 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.18522/2072-0181-2018-96-4-22-26. EDN: YUGTET.
3. Astvatsaturova M. A., Davydova Ye. V. Ethnocultural and Confessional Diversity in the Context of the Consolidation of Russian Society: Expert Opinion at the Regional Level. Vestnik PGU, 2018: 2: 270–273 (in Russ.). EDN: YPCZXN.
4. Badmayev V. N., Purvsuren B. The Phenomenon of Identity and the Ethnocultural Diversity of the Peoples in the Region (Based on the Materials of a Sociological Survey in the Republic of Kalmykia). Vestnik Kalmytskogo un-ta, 2019: 4 (44): 108–114 (in Russ.). EDN: JLXBIV.
5. Bedrik A. V., Bineeva N. K., D'yachenko A. N. Preservation of the Ethnocultural Diversity of the Population in the Context of Russian National Policy. Gosudarstvennoye i munitsipal'noye upravleniye. Uchenyye zapiski, 2019: 4: 213–217 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.22394/2079-1690-2019-1-4-213-217; EDN: KHMKAYU.
6. Barsova N.  S., Podyachev K. V. Participation of Soviet specialists in the creation of the Egyptian national dance school as a manifestation of cultural sensitivity phenomenon. Vestnik instituta sotziologii, 2023: 14:  2: 149–173 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.19181/vis.2023.14.2.8; EDN: GJWNXL.
7. Vagabova N. M. Ethnocultural diversity in the North Caucasus: the relationship of the unique, special and common. Nauchnaya mysl' Kavkaza, 2015: 4(84): 97–100 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.18522/2072-0181-2015-84-4-97-100; EDN: VOZZP.
8. Vorontsov S. A., Ponedelkov A. V., Usmanov R. Kh. Ethno-Cultural and Confessional Diversity as Factors in the Consolidation of Russian Society. Sovremennaya nauka i innovatsii, 2018: 3(23): 220–225 (in Russ.). EDN: YKHSKHZ.
9. Gorshkov M. K. Social Justice in the Mass Perception and Value Orientations of Russians. Gumanitariy Yuga Rossii, 2022: 6: 32–47 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.18522/2227-8656.2022.6.1; EDN: BZZAGS.
10. Dashibalova I. N. Ethno-cultural diversity and ethno-territorial branding in the Republic of Buryatia: expert assessments. Sovremennaya nauka, 2019: 12-4: 276–279 (in Russ.). EDN: UOCEJO.
11. Denisova G. S. Social justice in interethnic relations. Mir nauki. Sotsiologiya, filologiya, kul'turologiya. 2020: 4: 11. Accessed 28.05.2023. URL: https://sfk-mn.ru/PDF/27SCSK420.pdf (in Russ.). DOI: 10.15862/27SCSK420.
12. Denisova G. S., Denisova A. V., Namruyeva L. V. Ethnocultural education in the Republic of Kalmykia: is there a threat to the formation of civic identity. Vestnik KIGI RAN, 2016: 9: 2(24): 176–186 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.22162/2075-7794-2016-24-2-176-186; EDN: VZEVIN.
13. Denisova G. S., Chernobrovkina N. I. Expert assessment of the ethnopolitical situation in Kalmykia: interpretation in the context of the theory of justice. Gumanitariy Yuga Rossii, 2020: 9-6: 158–170 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.18522/2227-8656.2020.6.13; EDN: EWVDRX.
14. Drobizheva L. M. Etnichnost' v sotsial'no-politicheskom prostranstve Rossiyskoy Federatsii. Opyt 20 let [Ethnicity in the socio-political space of the Russian Federation. Experience 20 years]. Moscow, Novyy khronograf, 2013: 336 (in Russ.).
15. Zimina N. S. Socio-philosophical analysis of ethno-cultural diversity. Gumanitarnyy vector, 2019: 14-2: 13–19 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.21209/1996-7853-2019-14-2-13-19; EDN: ZKEYKD.
16. The historical consciousness of Russians: assessments of the past, memory, symbols (the experience of sociological measurement). Moscow, Ves' Mir, 2022: 248 (in Russ.).
17. Kuchukov M. M. Ideya spravedlivosti v polietnicheskom sotsiume [The idea of justice in a multiethnic society]. Voprosy teorii i praktiki, 2014: 8 (46). Accessed 10.05.23. URL: www.gramota.net/materials/3/2014/8-1/25.html (in Russ.).
18. Magomedkhanov M. M., Ibragimov M.-R. A. Yаzykovoye i etnokul'turnoye mnogoobraziye narodov: osobennosti Dagestana [Linguistic and ethno-cultural diversity of peoples: the specificity of Dagestan]. Sotsiologicheskiye issledovaniya, 2009: 6(302): 45–50 (in Russ.). EDN: KHKVPP.
19. Mal'kova V. K. Etnokul'turnoye mnogoobraziye stolitsy Rossii ili "S kem povedesh'sya, ot togo i naberesh'sya" [Ethnocultural diversity of the capital of Russia or "Whoever you behave with, that's what you get from"]. Moscow, IEA im. N. N. Miklukho-Maklaya RAN, 2022: 219 (in Russ.). EDN: ZHEMNZH.
20. Makarova G. I. Mnogoobraziye v vysshey stepeni: gosudarstvennaya federal'naya i regional'naya etnokul'turnaya politika [Diversity in Integration: State Federal and Regional Ethnocultural Policy]. Regionologiya, 2010: 1(170): 215–221 (in Russ.). EDN: LPCWXL.
21. Nimayeva B. B. The Buryat language in the ethno-cultural diversity of Russia. Etnosotsium i mezhnatsional'naya kul'tura, 2017: 1(103): 147–151 (in Russ.). EDN: YIBUGZ.
22. Pavlov N. M., Mikhaleva O. I. Development of native languages as a condition for preserving traditional values and ethno-cultural diversity. Narodnoye obrazovaniye Yakutii, 2022: 2(123): 23–26 (in Russ.). EDN: YEVGCHKU.
23. Perova Ye. Yu., Tsyrempilova I. S. The role of the university of culture in preserving the ethno-cultural diversity of the region. Vestnik KemGUKI, 2020: 50: 22–28 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.317773/2078-1768-2020-50-22-29; EDN: XEGGZW.
24. Popkov Yu. V., Tyugashev Ye. A. Ethnocultural Diversity as a Factor in the Socio-Economic Dynamics of Interethnic Communities. Yevraziystvo: teoreticheskiy potentsial i prakticheskoye prilozheniye, 2018: 9: 3–7 (in Russ.). EDN: YKHGERV.
25. Semenenko I. S. Identity policy in terms of ethno-cultural diversity: a new agenda. Identity: personality, society, politics. Moscow, Ves Mir, 2017: 102–114 (in Russ.). EDN: TEQVWH.
26. Social justice in the sphere of interethnic relations and strengthening the all-Russian identity of the population of the South of Russia. Moscow, Rusayns, 2021: 180 (in Russ.). EDN: TAIYNN.
27. Tarbastayeva I. S. A Theoretical Model for the Preservation of Ethnocultural Diversity in the Republics. Vestnik BGU, 2020: 2: 46–53 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.18101/1994-0866-2020-2-46-53; EDN: FESIZ.
28. Tishkov V. A., Stepanov V. V. Ethno-cultural and linguistic diversity and education system. Ethnic and religious diversity of Russia. Moscow, IEA im. N. N. Miklukho-Maklaya RAN, 2017: 125–145 (in Russ.). EDN: WCIRYL.
29. Rossiyskaya natsiya: stanovleniye i etnokul'turnoye mnogoobraziye [Russian nation: formation and ethno-cultural diversity]. Moscow, Nauka, 2011: 462 (in Russ.). EDN: QONJLB.
30. Chernobrovkina N. I., Bineyeva N. K., Voytenko V. P. Social justice in the context of depoliticization of ethnicity (on the example of the Republic of Kalmykia). Gumanitariy Yuga Rossii, 2021: 5(51): 171–192 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.18522/2227-8656.2021.5.12.
31. Shaikhislamov R. B. Ethno-cultural diversity of society and the complex ethno-cultural identity of youth. In Ethno-cultural diversity and civil and ethnic identity of youth in the post-Soviet space. Ufa, BGU, 2021: 6–29 (in Russ.). EDN: KHONNZN.
32. Ethnocultural and linguistic diversity of the peoples of Russia: on the example of the republics of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Sakha (Yakutia), Dagestan. Ufa, UFIC RAN, 2021: 310 (in Russ.). EDN: YAMKSZH.
33. Ethno-cultural diversity and civil and ethnic identity of youth in the post-Soviet space. Ufa, BGU, 2021: 188 (in Russ.). EDN: CVGRKM.
34. Language Policy in the Polyethnic Republics of the North Caucasus: Problems of Preserving the Ethnocultural Diversity of the Peoples of Russia. Makhachkala, Alef, 2022: 206 (in Russ.). EDN: ZVLJVM.