Ethnocentrism in Russia: dynamics, specificity, and influencing factors

The article substantiates the need to search for a connection between social inequality with ethnocentrism attitudes in order to prevent its negative manifestations. Based on the materials of the RUSSET (Russian Socio-Economic Trends) longitudinal study and the CESSI study, the dynamics of ethnocentrism of Russians in the period 1995-1999 and 2023, as well as the factors influencing the severity of ethnocentrism attitudes are being analyzed. It was revealed that throughout the entire study period, Russians are characterised by in-group favouritism, that intensified in 2023, as well as consistently maintained positive attitudes towards representatives of national minorities. The only exception is 1999, when manifestations of rigid ethnocentrism were observed: the majority of Russians expressly agreed that crime was growing because of representatives of national minorities and that they threatened the Russian political system. Such assessments are explained by the context of 1999, that was characterised by such events as the war in Chechnya, terrorist attacks (explosions of apartment buildings), high levels of street crime, etc. With the use of the principal component method, it was revealed that social attitudes towards ethnocentrism in all years of the study form a single three-component structure. Its components are called by the author 1) "inflexible ethnocentrism towards the national minorities", 2) "flexible ethnocentrism", 3) "inflexible ethnocentrism towards one's own country". Among the specific features of these components, it can be noted that a typical representative of the first group has a secondary specialised or vocational education. Typical representatives of the second group are respondents aged 34-41 who do not experience significant material problems. Representatives of the third group mainly belong to the age category from 18 to 33 years, that is explained by the general orientation of this age group towards the European civilisational path of development. Using regression analysis, factors associated with ethnocentrism were identified. It was found that the frequency of communication with representatives of national minorities, high self-assessment of income, belonging to a group with a higher level of education, and a high level of interpersonal trust increase attitudes that can be characterised as flexible ethnocentrism. It was concluded that social inequality is associated with ethnocentrism attitudes, since an increase in income and an increase in the level of education lead to an increase in ethnocentric flexibility. Belonging to the age group from 18 to 33 years, voting in elections for right-wing parties, and external locus control increase attitudes that can be characterised as inflexible ethnocentrism.