13.07.2024
The training took place at the RSUH, from June 20 to July 12, 2024 for the third year in a row. This time, 180 students from over 30 constituent entities of the Russian Federation completed the course.
Among those who completed the training, as in previous years, there have been representatives of the administrative, managerial and academic faculty and staff of Russian universities, managers and employees of coordination centers of leading regional universities created to develop an active civic position among young people, prevent interethnic and interfaith conflicts and counter the ideology of terrorism and extremism. A significant part of the audience were employees of regional state and municipal legislative and executive bodies, press services and PR managers of large Russian companies.
The program was developed as part of the tasks set for the Coordinating Council of the Russian Ministry of Education on the initiative of Dr. Magomed Omarov, Head of the Working Group on Prevention of Interethnic Conflicts under the Coordination Council, Director of the Center for Socio-Political Research and Information Technologies of RSUH.
The introductory lecture on the formation of Russia as a multinational and multi-religious state, given by the Head of the program, showed how unique our country is: it is home to representatives of more than 190 peoples, four traditional religious faiths (Orthodoxy, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism) and other religions with the opportunity to profess one’s faith and conduct religious activities in accordance with Russian legislation.
In the modern globalizing world, the centuries-old experience of the peoples of Russia demonstrates the possibility of strengthening civil unity and civic identity, all the while preserving the uniqueness of the cultures of all peoples living in the country.
Dr. Omarov noted that the colossal challenges in the field of interethnic and interfaith interaction that many countries of the world face today could be overcome in Russia due to the fact that throughout the country’s history, a policy of religious tolerance had been pursued towards representatives of different religious faiths. Thus, by decree of Peter I, the first translation of the Koran into Russian was published in 1716, and in 1741, Elizaveta signed a decree allowing the Buddhist religion on the territory of the Russian state. The same decree approved the staff of the Buddhist clergy of Buryatia, giving them permission to preach their teachings. In 1788, Catherine II, by a personal decree, legalized the regulation of the activities of the Muslim clergy.
The most intractable problems in the modern world, according to the Head of the program, are conflicts associated with interethnic contradictions and difficulties arising during migrants’ adaptation to life in new socio-cultural conditions and their integration into the host society. These are often associated with the deep differences that exist between the worldview, traditions and customs of those who come and those who live in the country.
European leaders at one time believed that the policy of multiculturalism could and should become a universal form for the coexistence of representatives of different national cultures. But, as experience has shown (and the leaders of European countries have been forced to admit this), such a policy is not based on reality, on the perception of the “other” as a subject of intercultural interaction. Not only did it fail to solve the issues of adaptation and integration of migrants into the host societies, but it significantly aggravated interethnic and interfaith contradictions in those countries that tried to implement it.
Therefore, in a complex geopolitical situation, public administration in the field of interethnic relations and migration acquires particular relevance. Here Russia has a huge advantage, which is associated with the presence of an effectively implemented model of state nationality and migration policy.
Now, especially during the SMO, it is important to preserve interethnic and interfaith unity, cohesion and patriotism.
According to the Head, the wide interest in the program from various groups clearly shows the relevance of the issues of interethnic relations, prevention and control of conflicts on national and religious grounds, preservation of interethnic unity and harmony, which have been the main direction of expert and analytical activities of the Center for Socio-Political Research and Information Technologies since its founding in 2017.
Dr. Omarov also said that the course was aimed at finding answers to pertinent questions together with representatives of various government bodies, social institutions, educational organizations, and media communities.
As part of the program, seven training webinars were organized, conducted by experts from the Center and invited experts: Yuri Shabaev, Andrey Khudoleev, Victoria Ledeneva, Elena Omelchenko, Vyacheslav Tsvetkov, Ainar Lasaria.
The listeners studied the regulatory framework of the modern state ethnic policy of the Russian Federation, mastered the cultural and psychological aspects of interethnic relations, and considered models and mechanisms for resolving ethno-political conflicts.
Of particular interest was the discussion of the migration policy of the Russian Federation in the context of modern geopolitical challenges, the implementation of the tasks of state national policy in the field of education, and information coverage of state national policy.
Upon completion of the training, students received a state-issued certificate.
