Confessional factor in shaping the ethnocultural identity of the Azerbaijani community in the Republic of Tatarstan

This article examines the role of religious (confessional) affiliation in the development and sustaining of the ethnocultural identity among the Azerbaijanis living in the Republic of Tatarstan. The study is based on a qualitative approach, which includes the investigation of theoretical sources and empirical field data obtained from the in-depth interviews with members of different generational cohorts, the participant observations at religious ceremonies and family events, and the content analysis of ethnic media narratives. Key mechanisms by which religious practices, primarily associated with the Shiite tradition of Islam, influence the cultural self-identification of the Azerbaijanis in the multicultural and multiconfessional environment of Tatarstan are revealed. Manifestations of religious beliefs in everyday life, family and community rituals, and interethnic relations are explored. The results of the study indicate that religious affiliation is crucial not only for preserving and adapting traditional customs and cultural activities within the ethnic group but also for structuring everyday social interactions. The importance of the confessional factor, a critical element of communication between various ethnic groups, in shaping the relations between the Azerbaijani community and other ethnoconfessional groups of the Republic of Tatarstan is demonstrated.