The article addresses the issue of societal consolidation viewed through the lens of public opinion within a regional community amidst a new reality shaped by a special military operation in Ukraine (SMO), intensified anti-Russian economic sanctions, and deteriorating relations between Russia and Western countries. The author examines the nuances of studying socio-political consensus in the works of foreign classics of social sciences and humanities, as well as in contemporary research by domestic scholars. Based on a synthesis of approaches, the study interprets socio-political consensus (consolidation) as a state of unity in opinions and concerted actions of political and social entities regarding fundamental values, approaches to addressing socio-political issues, and goals for state development. The empirical foundation of the study consists of data from sociological surveys conducted at both regional and all-Russian levels. Additionally, the author analyses strategic documents adopted by the country's governing bodies in 2021-2022. The article separately examines the results of monitoring the economic situation and social well-being of the population in the Vologda region (n = 1500) and data from surveys conducted by VCIOM. The analysis of the data obtained demonstrates positive shifts in the assessment of the activities of both regional and federal government institutions. It reaffirms the consolidation of Russian society around the President, indicating the population's comprehension and support of the objectives of the SMO and country's strategic goals and the decisions made in both foreign and domestic policies. These reflections mirror the socio-political consensus within the context of the new reality. The findings of the conducted research have unveiled specific characteristics in the evaluations of the regional community within the studied subject of the Russian Federation (Vologda region). The data revealed a higher level of approval for the activities of federal authorities compared to regional ones. There's a noted expansion of public-state dialogue in the country, focusing on involving civil society institutions in addressing tasks related to safeguarding national interests and overcoming crucial socio-economic problems amid increasing geopolitical tensions. It was identified that a significant indicator of societal understanding of the country's leadership's chosen political course is the consistently low level of protest potential and a substantial reserve of patience, alongside growing assessments of cohesion within Russian society, an increase in constructive social activity, and the demonstration of active citizen consolidation.

socio-political consensus, consensus, consolidation, approval, social reality, regional community, public opinion, special military operation

1. Balatsky E. V. Russia in the epicenter of geopolitical turbulence: accumulation of global contradictions. Ekonomicheskie i socialny`e peremeny: fakty, tendencii, prognoz, 2022: 4: 42–59 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.15838/esc.2022.4.82.3; EDN: LOGPEF.
2. Bubnova N. I. Total sanctions in the military-political perspective: the sanctions reaction of the United States and other Western countries in the context of «integrated deterrence». Obshhestvenny`e nauki i sovremennost, 2022: 6: 7–22 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S0869049922060016; EDN: FBNEDO.
3. Hajiyev H. A. Digital space and political stability of Russia. Socialno-politicheskie nauki, 2022: 12: 6: 22–28 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.33693/2223-0092-2022-12-6-22-28; EDN: KFZPDA.
4. Gubanov S. S. N. Mulder: the purpose of sanctions is to change the political regime in Russia. Ekonomist, 2022: 4: 20–39 (in Russ.).
5. Dynamics of socio–political relations and the phenomenon of consent in modern society. Moscow, FNISC RAN, 2019: 197 (in Russ.). EDN: GBVLVX.
6. Diskin I. E. «Track» and civil society. Obshhestvennye nauki i sovremennost, 2022: 5: 113–127 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S086904992205001X; EDN: EYYTPC.
7. Zverev A. L., Akhmatnurova S. F. Optics of perception of modern Russian politics. Vestnik RGGU. Ser.: Politologiya. Istoriya. Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya, 2015: 11(154): 42–51 (in Russ.). EDN: TYJHLT.
8. Ilyin V. A., Morev M. V. The rubicon has been passed: on February 24, 2022, a new stage of Russia's development in the XXI century has come. Ekonomicheskie i socialnye peremeny: fakty, tendencii, prognoz, 2022: 15: 2: 9–30 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.15838/esc.2022.2.80.1; EDN: ZZAXEY.
9. Ilyin V. A., Morev M. V. Special military operation reveals new features of civil society. Ekonomicheskie i socialnye peremeny: fakty, tendencii, prognoz, 2022: 15: 5: 9–32 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.15838/esc.2022.5.83.1; EDN: IJGJHO.
10. Ilyicheva L. E., Lapin A. V. Trust in power and socio-political consolidation of society. Nauka. Kultura. Obshhestvo, 2022: 28: 3: 50–67 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.19181/nko.2022.28.3.4; EDN: UZXUSM.
11. Kontury socialno-politicheskogo soglasiya po voprosam razvitiya Rossii [Contours of socio-political agreement on the development of Russia]. Ed. by O. M. Mikhaylyonok. Moscow, IS RAN, 2012: 370 (in Russ.).
12. Levashov V. K., Novozhenina O. P. Hybrid socio-political reality: essence, opinions of citizens and trends. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya, 2022: 12: 139–149 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250022369-8; EDN: DXBUFB.
13. Levashov V. K. The potential of civil society development in Russia. Vestnik RFFI. Gumanitarnye i obshhestvennye nauki, 2020: 3(100): 64–80 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.22204/2587-8956-2020-100-03-64-80; EDN: CJXXAJ.
14. Hobbes T. Leviathan, or Matter, Form and Power of the church and Civil state. Accessed 15.02.2023. URL: https://www.civisbook.ru/files/File/Gobbs_Leviafan.pdf (in Russ.).
15. Linde A. N. Approach Yu. Habermas to the theoretical study of political communication. Vestnik Moskovskogo un-ta. Ser. 7. Filosofiya, 2015: 5: 91–104 (in Russ.). EDN: VNUJIX.
16. Mikhaylenok O. M. Socio-political consent in the context of democratic consolidation (analytical review). Vestnik instituta sotziologii, 2015: 6: 3: 74–91 (in Russ.). EDN: WAVRVD.
17. Mikhaylyonok O. M. Socio-political consent and the problem of overcoming social inequality. Vlast, 2015: 1: 12–17 (in Russ.). EDN: UJEWEP.
18. Inequality in modern society. (Political and social aspects). Political consent: from theory to practice. Moscow, Rusains, 2016: 276 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.15216/978-5-4365-1428-4; EDN: XGNDJZ.
19. Harmony in society as a condition for the development of Russia. Iss. 4. Inequality in modern society. Political and social aspects. Ed. by O. M. Mikhaylyonok, V. V. Lyublinsky. Moscow, IS RAN, 2015: 293 (in Russ.). EDN: TULSNX.
20. Nikovskaya L. I. The role of civil society in the formation of civic identity and consolidation of Russian society: political and managerial aspect. Vestnik Voronezhskogo un-ta. Ser.: Istoriya. Politologiya. Sociologiya, 2017: 3: 62–67 (in Russ.). EDN: XAJTGA.
21. Ozerov V. V., Nikovskaya L. I. Information war in the mirror of conflict theory. Socialno-politicheskie issledovaniya, 2022: 4: 34–47 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.20323/2658-428X-2022-4-17-34-47; EDN: KYZJJP.
22. Perevezentsev S. V., Puchnina O. E., Strakhov A. B., Shakirova A. A. On the issue of methodological principles for studying Russian basic traditional values. Vestnik Moskovskogo un-ta. Ser. 18. Sotsiologiya i politologiya. 2021: 27(4): 113–133 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.24290/1029-3736-2021-27-4-113-133; EDN: DEAYZJ.
23. Rogachev S. V., Gorlov K. N. Social consolidation in a modern city in the context of the development of digital communications. Nauka. Kultura. Obshhestvo, 2022: 28: 4: 75–84 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.19181/nko.2022.28.4.6; EDN: QJTZJA.
24. Ruban L. S. The development of the theory of democracy and the contribution of Seymour Martin Lipset to political sociology. Socialnye i gumanitarnye znaniya, 2022: 8: 3: 310–319 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.18255/2412-6519-2022-3-310-319; EDN: VTZRXX.
25. Ryzhova S. V. Russian identity in regional diversity: the role of trust. Vestnik instituta sotziologii, 2022: 13: 3: 13–31 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.19181/vis.2022.13.3.828; EDN: TPBYIX.
26. Consent in society as a condition for the development of Russia. Ed. by O. M. Mikhaylyonok, V. V. Lyublinsky. Iss. 5. Moscow, FNISC RAN, 2017: 268 (in Russ.). EDN: VUKIJV.
27. Soglasie v obshhestve kak uslovie razvitiya Rossii [Consent in society as a condition for the development of Russia]. Iss. 3. Moscow, IS RAN, 2013: 293 (in Russ.). EDN: SCFSLF.
28. Soglasie v obshhestve kak uslovie razvitiya sovremennoj Rossii: politicheskie i social`ny`e aspekty` [Consent in society as a condition for the development of modern Russia: political and social aspects]. Ed. by O. M. Mikhaylyonok. Moscow, IS RAN, 2011: 335 (in Russ.). EDN: RBGVYF.
29. Trofimova I. N. [Relationship between society and government: public consolidation or crisis of trust? In Russian Society and Challenges of the Time. 4^th book. Ed. by M. K. Gorshkov, V. V. Petukhov. Moscow, Ves Mir, 2016: 176–194 (in Russ.).
30. Shestopal E. B., Rogach N. N. Images of the present and future of Russia in the political consciousness of its citizens. Obshhestvennye nauki i sovremennost, 2022: 6: 45–61 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S0869049922060041. EDN: FCHBHW.
31. Shushpanova I. S. Features of socio-political consolidation of Russian society and the state in the conditions of a special military operation: sociological analysis. Nauka. Kultura. Obshhestvo, 2022: 28: 4: 97–108 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.19181/nko.2022.28.4; EDN: KARUHB.
32. Lipset S. M. Consensus and conflict: Essays in political sociology. New Brunswick, Transaction Books, 2005: 375.