Vol 15, No 4 (2024)
About the Issue
Reality and сonstruct in Russian society
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):10-15
10-15
Theme of the issue: Stratification processes and social well-being
The Middle Class in Modern Russia: Has the Theoretical Construction Become a Reality?
Abstract
The article examines three perspectives of studying the middle class in modern Russia. The first perspective is presented as a brief excursion into the history of the development of middle class studies in the post-Soviet period. The second perspective is devoted to the consideration of methodological issues of studying the middle class, the criteria for its identification in the social structure of Russian society and the definition on this basis of the quantitative characteristics of the middle class. The third perspective is presented by the results of the analysis of the middle class in accordance with the author's methodology of its identification by three criteria - material standard of living, education and self-identification with the middle class. The methodology is applied to the analysis of the middle class using data from the all-Russian monitoring conducted by the Center for the Study of Sociocultural Changes of the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences from 1990 to the present day. It allows us to trace the dynamics of the middle class in the post-Soviet period, its composition by professional characteristics, by areas of employment, by strategies in labour activity and other aspects. The latest wave of monitoring (summer 2023) focused on the population's attitude to the choice of the path the country should take and the respondent's self-identification with a particular model of Russia's development. The middle class in its majority (67%) chose a special Russian path of development for the country and for themselves personally, practically rejecting the path followed by Western societies, developed Muslim countries and China. At the same time, in second place (30%) we find the opinion that Russia should use all the best experience of other countries. At the same time, respondents declared themselves to be supporters of democratic forms of government, insist on the observance of human rights and freedoms, primarily in the economic and social spheres, as the closest to the everyday interests of people. The results of the study concluded that the majority of Russians, and especially the middle class, understand the original path for Russia as the path of a sovereign state based on traditional and humanitarian values, and does not at all mean a desire to live in a traditional society that has lost many of its features under the influence of decades of modernisation.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):16-33
16-33
Objective and Subjective Poverty in Russia: What the Last 20 Years Have Brought
Abstract
The presented article is devoted to changes in the scale and qualitative characteristics of objective and subjective poverty in Russian society over the past 20 years. Based on the data of all-Russian empirical studies conducted by the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2003, 2013 and 2023, the dynamics of the number of objectively and subjectively poor Russians, the areas of intersection of these groups, their living conditions, their perception of their situation and ideas about the future of the country are traced. The obtained results indicate a noticeable reduction in both objective poverty (by income level) and subjective poverty (by self-assessment of their financial situation) among Russians over the past 20 years, which mainly occurred in the first half of this period. The reduction in the shares of objective and subjective poverty was accompanied by their divergence. As a result, an ever smaller share of Russians find themselves in the poverty zone simultaneously in both of these dimensions, and the portraits and characteristics of these groups differ increasingly. The objectively poor differ less in their assessments of their situation and opportunities in various spheres from the population as a whole, which indicates, on the one hand, the relatively shallow nature of income poverty, and on the other, the modest standard of living of the “typical Russian”. The subjectively poor are characterised by more noticeable differences from the population as a whole, in particular, negative assessments of many spheres of their lives. A similar situation is observed with the socio-psychological well-being of representatives of these groups: although over the past 20 years it has improved both among the poor by income and among the poor by self-assessment, positive changes in the first group occurred faster. As a result, the poor by self-assessment are characterised by a higher level of pessimism and anxiety compared to other Russians. In terms of assessments of Russia's development path, both objectively and subjectively the poor differ little from other Russians, demonstrating a public consensus: the population believes in a bright future for the country, but on the condition that it follows a special path that allows for social stability. Finally, it is important to note that the subjectively poor cannot be reduced to pensioners: the data confirm that this group is heterogeneous in its composition, which determines the absence of a clear portrait and the impossibility of identifying it as a "single addressee" of socio-economic policy.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):34-59
34-59
Specificity of Subjective Well-Being of Russians from Different Types of Settlements
Abstract
This article analyses the specificity of subjective social well-being in the context of settlement inequalities. The empirical basis of the analysis is the data of all-Russian representative studies conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is shown that over the past two decades, significant shifts have occurred in the mass consciousness of Russians in terms of perception of various indicators of social well-being. This has led to the formation of a stable and generally harmonious picture of subjective social well-being among residents of all types of settlements. It was also recorded that the indicators related to basic needs (assessments of food, clothing, housing conditions, material security and health) and the social microworld (assessments of family relationships, opportunities for communicating with friends, professional fulfilment, obtaining the necessary education, organising recreation during vacations, leisure time, as well as the situation at work) were perceived more positively by the majority of respondents than the components of social well-being characterising the specifics of the local community (assessments of the place of residence, the position occupied in society, the level of personal safety and the environmental situation) and the conditional "macroworld" (assessments of the availability of the Internet and digital technologies, the level of social security in the event of job loss, as well as opportunities for expressing political views, receiving the necessary medical care and influencing one's own life). The article shows that the subjective social well-being of villagers in comparison with city dwellers still differs for the worse, with the exception of the perception of the block of characteristics of social well-being associated with the specifics of the local community, i.e. place of residence. In this regard, according to the results of the 2023 study, rural residents outperformed city dwellers for the first time. In general, a noticeable trend was revealed towards smoothing out settlement differences in the perception of various aspects of social well-being, primarily due to higher rates of improvement in subjective assessments among rural residents. It was also noted that the problematic background in the perception of social well-being is formed due to the relative dissatisfaction of Russians with certain aspects of life. They are primarily associated with the skeptical assessment by residents of all populated areas of the level of social security of an individual in the event of job loss, dissatisfaction among the population of the centres of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation with the environmental situation there, as well as persistent problems with access to the necessary medical care in rural areas.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):60-81
60-81
Russians' perceptions of key components of the quality of life and social justice: a cross-section of public opinion in 2024.
Abstract
This article, based on the latest sociological research data, examines how the current crisis conditions affect Russians' perception of their well-being, their satisfaction with various aspects of everyday life and their ideas about a just state. The author notes that, despite the difficult socio-economic conditions, many Russians have emotionally adapted to the crisis situation, which was greatly facilitated by the growing importance of intangible factors of well-being, primarily harmonious family relations and friendship ties. Based on the studied data, the author notes that many Russians perceive interpersonal relations with their closest circle as a key element of their well-being, which indicates not only the importance of intangible values of communication and emotional comfort, but also the mass demand for stable social ties.
Despite the growing influence of non-material factors on citizens' self-assessment of their quality of life, their subjective well-being is largely influenced by the structural social inequalities historically established in society: age, property and geographical inequalities. Young people and residents of large cities more often assess their lives positively, while representatives of older generations and residents of rural areas tend to express a more negative view of their well-being. This difference in perception is also observed in assessments of the availability of quality medical services, where residents of cities, especially megacities, have clear advantages.
In the perception of modern Russians, an important component of personal well-being is also life in a justly organized society, and the idea of social justice remains relevant for the majority of citizens. Russians understand social justice primarily as equal opportunities for self-realization and success for all citizens. But, although during the post-Soviet period the idea of income equality lost to the demand for the creation of favorable preconditions for self-realization, today more than a third of Russians prefer equal access to life benefits to equality of “starting conditions”.
The author concludes that today public opinion has formed a demand for the active participation of the state in ensuring social justice, which is strengthened under the influence of crisis trends.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):82-109
82-109
Preparing Russians for Retirement from the Perspective of the Active Longevity Concept (Based on the Yaroslavl Region)
Abstract
The article describes attitudes towards the choice of labour, financial, and health-preserving trajectories of Russians in preparation for retirement based on the results of the author's sociological study conducted using the method of personal interviews (n = 650). It is shown that in the context of demographic aging in Russia, there is a gradual shift away from understanding aging as a mutual alienation of an elderly person and society, and the elderly - exclusively as objects of care, towards considering the elderly as active participants in public life, in relation to whom the policy of active longevity is implemented. It involves a system of measures to promote employment of the elderly, maintain material well-being, improve health and quality of life, and learning throughout life. However, the index of active longevity in Russia remains low.
The assertion is substantiated that the system of measures in line with the concept of active longevity policy has a proactive nature, that is, it is aimed at future generations of elderly people, rather than the current ones, and involves preparation for the period of aging, marked by retirement. Based on the data of the conducted sociological study, it is shown that the labour, financial and health-preserving trajectories of respondents who have not reached retirement age, regarding the preparation for the retirement in some ways are in line with the principles of active longevity, and in some ways, contradict them. At the same time, the main differences are observed between respondents under 46 years of age and pre-retirees.
The respondents' orientation towards long-term employment, readiness for lifelong professional training, mastering non-traditional forms of employment (for example, readiness to work on Internet platforms), awareness of responsibility for ensuring their economic well-being in old age and the use of various strategies for this (professional-labour, savings, investment), the attitude towards giving up bad habits and maintaining physical activity (sports, physical education) create the basis for living out their aging by future pensioners in accordance with the principles of active longevity.
There are also barriers that hinder the transformation of the aging model in the direction of following the principles of active longevity: the influence of objective factors of economic instability, a low level of financial literacy of the population, the lack of special financial planning skills in preparation for retirement, the lack of a culture of health care.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):110-132
110-132
The role of the “third sector” in the political careers of men and women in Russia
Abstract
Gender asymmetry in the distribution within Russian politics suggests the presence of a "glass ceiling" that does not allow women to fully realise their potential. The article is devoted to the assessment of socio-political activity as social capital that helps women to co-opt into the state governance system and overcome internal restrictions. In world practice, public non-governmental non-profit organisations have come to be viewed as a special segment of the economy - the "third sector”. It plays an increasingly significant role in the development of civil society and influences the political sphere in Russia. The purpose of the study was to assess the third sector as a pool of recruitment to power. Using the method of retrospective biographical analysis of eight hundred successful acting politicians and managers of both sexes, an analysis of their incorporation into the state system was carried out, gender differences between political trajectories were identified. The most effective in structure were all-Russian public organisations with an extensive network of branches throughout the country, which allows them to accumulate social and administrative resources and successfully incorporate their representatives into government bodies. The party lift functions successfully for both sexes. The analysis allows us to conclude that the third sector is a pool of recruitment into the country's political system; vertical mobility has a number of gender differences. For women, the social capital that allows for vertical mobility is a party career, experience in the system of public chambers, participation in the People's Front "For Russia" movement, as well as in professional and charitable NGOs. For them, activity in the public field is an effective way to build a political trajectory to any level of the power pyramid. The business community, through non-profit associations, tries not only to be useful to the state, but also quite successfully uses them to incorporate its members into various branches of government, but this lift operates mainly for men.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):133-154
133-154
Problems of social integration
Citizens' Perception of Historical Justice in the Modern Socio-Cultural and Political Contexts
Abstract
Today, Russian society is faced with the need to rethink the reality in which it has found itself, including in connection with the reunification with new territories in the south of the country, the transformation of the entire system of national and international security, the construction of new meanings and interpretations of social and political processes. Changes in the sphere of socio-political, international and economic relations occur against the background of the processes of formation of the mobilisation type of state development, requiring the development of new value models and adaptation strategies for the behaviour of the population. In such conditions, historical justice, determining the logic of interpretation of events and processes occurring in Russian society, acts as a "demarcation" line in the mass consciousness and behaviour of the country's population. Determining the specifics of citizens' perception of historical justice can serve as the basis for coordinating public interests and creating an ideological coordinate system necessary for society in conditions of crisis and value contradictions.
The purpose of the study is to consider historical justice as a factor in the civil integration of the Russian post-Soviet multicultural society in the context of socio-cultural challenges. The methodological basis of the study is built on the theories of natural and historical justice. The constructivist and riskological approaches were also used in this study.
Within the framework of this publication, the following fundamental blocks are considered: historical justice as a direction of the state's social policy; ethnocultural interaction in the multicultural space of the Russian post-Soviet society; the role of historical justice in the integration of the Russian post-Soviet multicultural society in the context of socio-cultural challenges.
As a result of the analysis of the presented blocks, the author comes to the conclusion about the need to implement a special state policy in modern Russian society aimed at constructing and strengthening the civil integration of the Russian multicultural society on the basis of integrating narratives. Such narratives should be based on the concept of continuity of national history, and they should unfold only on the principles of the culture of socio-political and scientific dialogue.
The prospects of the research are connected with further study of existing factors of civil integration of Russian society, aimed at cultivating the values of humanistic worldview of Russian post-Soviet multicultural society in the context of new socio-cultural challenges.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):155-170
155-170
Migration Policy in the Nizhny Novgorod Region: Subjects and Management Practices
Abstract
The article examines a regional model of migration policy based on the example of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. A distinctive feature of the author's approach is the understanding of regional migration policy as a set of management practices that include both government bodies and public organisations. This approach allows us to consider migration policy as a multifaceted and complex sphere of interactions between various subjects, as well as to increase the effectiveness of the programs implemented within its framework. The main tasks in the sphere of migration policy in the region are the adaptation and integration of migrants, but there is no clear definition of these concepts and actions for their implementation. The main organisational and management structures in the region are the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, interethnic councils operating under the governor of the region and the administration of Nizhny Novgorod. Activities to include foreign citizens in regional society are not directly included in the functionality of specialised government bodies, but can be compensated by the activities of public associations. Therefore, civil society institutions, both registered associations and informal diaspora communities, should be included in management practices. In addition, unlike government bodies, they have the ability to promptly respond to requests from foreign citizens. It is noted that the identified groups of institutions participating in the implementation of migration policy have specific resources, which predetermines their functionality and the nature of their activities in management practices. Organisational and managerial institutions rely on administrative and legal resources. As the resources of civil society institutions serve communication channels among foreign citizens, high immersion and involvement in the problems of labour migrants living in the region. These circumstances require their inclusion in the development and implementation of target programs and activities of adaptation and integration orientation. The author concludes that it is advisable to create a specialised agency in the region responsible for the development and implementation of activities within the framework of regional migration policy.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):171-191
171-191
Risks of social metamorphosis
On the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Personality Traits with Attitudes Toward a Sensitive Topic (Using the Problem of Domestic Violence as an Example)
Abstract
The article presents an overview of the results of an exploratory empirical study conducted by the author with the purpose of testing the relationship between subjective factors such as emotional intelligence and the Big Five traits with attitudes toward sensitive topics in sociological surveys (using the problem of domestic violence as an example). The topic of domestic violence was chosen because it is actively discussed in the media discourse, but at the same time, it still remains rather a taboo for Russian society. The sensitivity of the questions is determined not only by the topic, but also by the personal context, so emotional intelligence and personality traits were chosen as subjective factors for the study. To measure emotional intelligence, we used the N. Schutte test as a reliable, valid and at the same time not too voluminous tool for a psychological technique, and to identify the traits of the Big Five, we used the technique of M. S. Egorova and O. V. Parshchikova. Some of the questions on domestic violence were taken from surveys by VCIOM (2011, 2019) and FOM (2019), and the author's questions were also added, including a "sincerity scale", according to which the respondent could assess at the end of the questionnaire the degree of his sincerity in answering the questions asked. The subjects were students aged 18-24 (n = 125). There was carried out a comparison of the obtained results with the results of surveys on the topic of domestic violence by VCIOM and FOM for the age group of 18-24 years, as well as a correlation analysis, which revealed the presence of a weak relationship between the indicators of emotional intelligence, extroversion and attitude towards the topic of domestic violence. As a result, a very significant conclusion was obtained that a high level of emotional intelligence is associated with the sincerity of respondents when answering sensitive topics. The article will be of interest primarily to specialists interested in the methodology of sociological research and interdisciplinary research.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):192-212
192-212
Peculiarities of motivations of IT specialists in crisis conditions
Abstract
The article analyzes the data of a qualitative research conducted by the authors at the time of the “testing situation”, i.e. the beginning of the SWO and the subsequent anti-Russian restrictions, among IT specialists and technopreneurs who faced a choice: to stay in Russia or to move to another country after their employer (or with their business). As a theoretical basis of the study we used the grad theory of L. Boltanski and L. Teveno, which made it possible to identify appropriate reactions to the resulting “situation-test”, with reasoned criticism and justification, with perceptions of fairness, as well as to identify the main motives contributing to the move or, on the contrary, leading to the refusal of it. The article attempts to identify the relationship between the reaction to the “situation-test” and the action (relocation or refusal of it) that the respondents eventually took. The authors collected 52 research materials, of which 42 were in-depth interviews with IT specialists relocated (22) and those who remained in Russia (20), and another 10 were interviews, statements, posts, and speeches of leading technopreneurs living and working both in Russia and those who moved abroad due to the SWO. As a result of the analysis of the collected data, the authors made the following conclusions: a group of IT specialists, homogeneous by a number of characteristics, is clustered by the type of reactions to the “situation-test”, depending on which the corresponding choice is formed: relocation or refusal of it. This reveals a connection; moreover, depending on the spectrum of reactions, more unambiguous or, on the contrary, blurred in terms of group behavior, choices and actions are observed.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):213-234
213-234
Development of the Information and Network Environment and Deviant Behaviour: Cybercrime as a New Social Threat
Abstract
The presented article considers the problem of new digital threats. The study focuses on the main trends in the development of cybercrime in Russia and its specific country features. The authors' analysis of statistical data from various departments (the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General's Office, Roskomnadzor) on the state and structure of crime showed that cybercrime in Russia has increased significantly in recent years, especially in the field of telecommunications and computer information. The most common types of cybercrime in Russian society are identified and analysed - various types of fraud and theft committed using information and communication technologies.
For the empirical basis of the study the data of an online survey of the urban working-age population (18-60 years old), conducted by employees of the Sector of Sociology of Deviant Behaviour of the Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS using a multi-stage quota sample (March-May 2024) is used. The attitude of city residents to various types of digital crime was assessed. It was found that many respondents consider the probability of becoming a victim of cyber fraud to be high, especially with regard to the illegal use of personal data and hacking of email.
It was found that the number of respondents who fear becoming a victim of cyber-crime increases with age. At the same time, these fears decrease in the oldest age groups. The level of education is also an important differentiating factor in relation to encountering cyber threats - the higher its level, the more often respondents have experience of encountering cyber crime.
A survey of experts was conducted to identify the key features of cyber-crime in Russia. Specialists from various fields were involved in the examination - from deviant researchers to practitioners involved in information security and with experience in working with cyber-crime. Their forecast for the coming years is disappointing - a further increase in cyber-crime is expected, the complexity of the techniques used, including the use of artificial intelligence, and therefore the development of specialised security solutions is necessary. It is shown that the main factors in the growth of cybercrime in Russia are its dual nature, manifested in simultaneous organisational complexity and structure, on the one hand, and flexibility and adaptability, on the other. In addition, cybercrime exacerbates an important social problem - growing digital inequality. Thus, cyber-crime in Russia poses a serious threat that requires a comprehensive approach and coordinated efforts at all levels of society to effectively suppress it.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):235-254
235-254
Protest Consciousness and Protest Culture of the Young People of the Russian Far East
Abstract
Social protest is the cause of conflicts in society. But it also signals unresolved problems and forces the authorities to respond to the demands of society. In the history of Russia, protest has always played a significant role, and extreme radicalism has always been its peculiar feature.
The study is based on youth surveys conducted in 2020 and 2024 in the Far East. Two types of protestants were identified in the sample: supporters of peaceful and radical protest. They are carriers of two different types of protest consciousness, including values, ideas, and motives for protest.
The author concludes that the youth of the Far East has two types of protest consciousness and protest culture: a peaceful type of protest consciousness and, based on it, peaceful civil protest ("petition culture"); and a radical protest consciousness and, based on it, radical protest ("rebellion culture"). "Petition culture" is associated with an active civic position, interest in politics, participation in legal forms of political and public activities. Its bearers are characterised by such values as justice and equality, freedom and creativity, human rights and the desire for renewal. The culture of radical protest is determined by the subject type of political consciousness, strong negative emotions, strong ethnicity and belief in a threat to one's nationality. It can be noted that the bearers of radical protest consciousness are ambivalent in relation to the forms of protest: they are ready for both peaceful and radical forms. We interpret this as follows: if a subject is ready for more radical forms of protest, then he or she will also accept less radical ones. But bearers of peaceful protest consciousness are ready only to participate in peaceful protest (that's why they are "peaceful"). Radical forms frighten them and are unacceptable to them.
According to the results of our study, the "petition culture" is more common in the sample, which means that a dialogue between the authorities and the youth is possible. The work also examines the generational characteristics of the protest consciousness of generations “Y” (or millennials) and “Z” (or centennials).
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):255-281
255-281
Sociology of Science
Scientific Supervisor and Scientific Mentor: Updating Old Roles and Meanings
Abstract
This article examines the development of the scientific mentoring institute in Russian universities. The authors assume that it should be based on scientific ideas about the content and features of the professional roles of a scientific supervisor and a scientific mentor. Despite all the similarities, these roles of research and teaching staff correspond to different functional areas of their activities with their own set of tasks, results, and features of interaction with students. The purpose of this article is to compare the professional roles of a scientific mentor and a scientific supervisor of undergraduate and graduate students for the purpose of updating the meaning of mentoring activities in the field of university research work. The subject of the analysis is the features of the professional role of a student's scientific mentor. Their presence substantiates the independent nature of mentoring activities and "legitimises" it in the role repertoire of research and teaching staff of universities. The empirical basis of the article is the materials of semi-structured interviews with research and teaching staff of Russian universities, conducted within the framework of an all-Russian study (n = 30, 2024). The interpretation of the empirical data is based on the theoretical provisions of the sociological theory of roles, the theory of social identity, the concept of professional morality and ethics. The study not only substantiates the differences in the functional content of professional roles and everyday practices of a supervisor and a mentor, but also reveals the paradoxes of the professional identification of supervisors and mentors, the moral and ethical dimension of their activities. It is shown that the features of the prescriptions, expectations and performance of their roles by supervisors and mentors are manifested in the degree of formality of their rights, duties and responsibilities, the level of individualisation and the nature of the temporal organisation of interactions with students. The practical significance of the results obtained is associated with the possibility of developing university programs to support mentors as key actors in involving students in the academic profession and university science. The role differences between a scientific mentor and a scientific supervisor allow us to further specify the management requirements for different types of professional activity of scientific and pedagogical workers, as well as optimize their resource support. The practical significance of the study for academic workers is to obtain grounds for self-assessment of their readiness for the professional role of a scientific mentor and to determine the areas of professional responsibility associated with this role.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):282-302
282-302
Cinema as a Subject of Sociological Reflection: Analysis of Scientific Publications
Abstract
This review article is based on the question of the importance of the sociology of cinema as a separate direction in sociological science. In this regard, the article analyses publications devoted to cinema in leading sociological journals from 1976 to the present. The purpose of the study is to identify the sociological interpretation of the transformation of Russian cinema in retrospect, as well as the main trends in the development of Russian sociology of cinema. During the analysis, scientific publications were systematised by year and research areas, which made it possible to more clearly define the current problems of film studies. Starting from the Soviet period, the film industry was considered by sociologists from the point of view of the interaction "cinema-spectator", as a means of propaganda, representation and solving practical problems. The studies were carried out within the framework of the analysis of film distribution statistics, as well as based on the motives and factors of film selection by viewers. It was recorded that the main emphasis of the authors was on quantitative studies, mainly concerning the topics of cinema attendance, their repertoire and audience demand. Some of the works were based on a comparative analysis with foreign studies, noting the lack of interdisciplinary research in the domestic sociology of cinema. At the same time, both in the Soviet period and later, there were practically no works devoted to regional cinema, including ethnic cinema, the history of which began in the first half of the 20th century.
Currently, scientists note that despite the revival of federal cinema, it still does not meet the needs of society, does not become the kind of art that would shape the national culture. There is a lack of theoretical and methodological analysis of sociological research, especially with the use of qualitative methods, on the importance of cinema for Russian society. Further study of the issues of preserving and understanding cinema as an art seems relevant. It is also necessary to look for answers to the questions of what functions it currently carries and / or should carry, what are the alternatives for sociological research in the context of the development of regional cinema. Disclosing the importance of research in the field of film studies will allow us to put forward new problematic and subject fields of the sociology of cinema in the context of current challenges.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):303-323
303-323
Topic of the Issue: Sociology of Religion
Russian Buddhism, Traditional Values, and the Public Media Sphere
Abstract
This article is a continuation of the previously published study of the strategies of the Russian-speaking Buddhist community in relation to the Internet and new media and is devoted to the analysis of the public contribution of Buddhist civil initiatives. The complexity of this topic lies in its novelty and extremely weak study through the prism of sociological methodologies. Meanwhile, the transformations of Russian society in the spheres of politics, law, education and religion urgently require from sociologists both new theoretical reflections on the relevance of established research methodologies and new applied studies of the changed reality. The analytical framework of the study was a combination of the concepts of postsecular society by Jürgen Habermas and the "organisational substrate" by Julia Berger. The applied part of the study included expert interviews on the topic of civil Buddhist initiatives in the period of the 1990s-220s. and a case study of two Buddhist non-governmental organisations – the Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural and Philosophical Traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and the Foundation for the Promotion of Buddhist Education and Research. The conducted analysis allowed us to identify the ideational and particular components of the organisational substrate of Buddhist non-governmental organisations. The ideational component of the organisational substrate of both funds is based on the Buddhist regulation of social action as aimed at gaining good merit and bringing benefit to living beings, purification of consciousness. The key vectors of civic activity of Russian lay Buddhists are determined by the particularism of the Buddhist model of dissemination of the teaching (prohibition of missionary work, the Teaching as the Gift of preaching), doctrinal regulation of social activity of lay people and religious professionals, and a civilian model of reproduction of traditional values through Buddhist education. The organisational substrate identified by the authors allowed them to study the main areas of civic initiatives of Russian Buddhists. These, in accordance with the substrate, were the creation of a media niche of traditional Buddhism in the public sphere of Russian society; mediation of relations between traditional Buddhism and the political-legal and scientific-educational subsystems of Russian society. An analysis of the stages of institutionalisation of Buddhist non-governmental organisations showed that the first stage included the formation of a public initiative from below, the second stage covered the construction of a long-term dialogue with the authorities on the problem of reproduction of Buddhist education, and the current, third stage - the consolidation of the Buddhist sangha in the socio-cultural and political-legal context of the Russian Federation.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):324-344
324-344
From the sociologist's desk
Peculiarities of Public Spaces Perception by Muscovites with Limited Mobility (Based on Two Urban Locations)
Abstract
This article analyses the accessibility of the urban environment for various groups of people with limited mobility. Moscow is considered a complex space that includes “old”, historically developed and “new”, modern territories, which, however, do not have clear zoning and, within the Moscow Ring Road, are located nearby, and often inside the “old”. Many groups of Muscovites with limited mobility are narrowed to people with disabilities with musculoskeletal problems, elderly citizens, and mothers with children. The basis for such abstraction was the institutional definitions of people with limited mobility contained in the laws of the Russian Federation. The empirical study consists of three complementary parts. Stress tests were conducted for elderly citizens, which made it possible to identify the main difficulties with the accessibility of the urban environment and attitudes towards them. The article also analyses the accessibility of the "old" Moscow space using the example of the Aeroport metro station for elderly people and mothers with children over five years old. Problems in the planned and declared inclusiveness of the new space are identified using the example of Zaryadye Park. It is shown that the urban environment of Moscow can be considered as possessing subjectivity (in accordance with the definition of B. Latour), since it determines the life of people with limited mobility. Different priorities of the inclusiveness of the environment for temporarily and permanently disabled people, as well as for different age groups, are revealed.
The analysis of new spaces showed that modern design, taking into account the requirements of inclusiveness, did not manage to avoid obstacles for people with limited mobility. The authors conclude that there is a need for a broad study of various groups of permanently and temporarily mobile citizens, of their interests, priorities, value systems and prospects for coordinating these interests in the design of a modern urban environment, especially in such a complex space as Moscow. The authors believe that the results obtained can be applied both in the development of Moscow urban planning and in the development of general urban planning principles.
Bulletin of the Institute of Sociology. 2024;15(4):345-357
345-357