Vladimir Shubkin as Researcher of Catastrophic Consciousness

On the centenary of outstanding Soviet and Russian sociologist Vladimir Shubkin, his latest research project is discussed, - the study of catastrophic consciousness. The project initiated by professor at East Lansing University (University of Michigan, USA) Vladimir Shlapentokh had pursued following objectives: to analyze the concepts of fears and catastrophism in relation to mass consciousness, to compare structures of fears in different regions of Russia, as well as in the countries that had intended at this time to join the project. A variety of real and imaginary fears and concerns that a person experiences explicitly or subconsciously were found to act in a sociological perspective as important mobilizing (motivating)/demobilizing (demotivating) factors of behavior, playing the role of mechanisms to evaluate certain events and plans of social interaction, ways to resist dangers or, conversely, escape them. The Center for International Studies of the Problems of Catastrophic Consciousness under the leadership of Shubkin was created specifically for the project at the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The article presents Shubkin‘s views on historical prerequisites for the reproduction of catastrophic consciousness in Russia, as well as generalized results of sociological studies of fears and concerns in Russia conducted in 1996, 1999 and 2003 under the leadership of Shubkin, data of comparative empirical studies in the USA, Lithuania, Ukraine and Bulgaria carried out using methodology and questionnaire developed by V. Shubkin. The contribution of the scholar to theoretical and empirical study of fears and concerns as factors of social well-being of society is noted. This well-being indicates ability of a society, a particular community, a group to solve constantly emerging problems, to maintain and improve its position among other communities, or its inability to solve these problems.

Vladimir Shubkin, catastrophic consciousness, fears, concerns