Vol 19, No 4 (2019)

This article considers the nature of the theoretical legacy - the system theory - of the German sociologist Niklas Luhmann. The author focuses on three topics: first, he briefly describes Luhmann’s ideas in the context of the contemporary sociological thought; second, he identidies how Luhmann’s works are perceived today; third, he presents a new reflection on Luhmann’s works. Paradigmatically, Luhmann’s ideas can be attributed to the system theory, neo-functionalism and radical constructivism due to his efforts to find inspiration in natural sciences. At the same time, Luhmann found himself in the close position to the traditions of the German philosophical idealism. Although the system theory is holistic in nature, Luhmann used for its elaboration elements of the individualist-oriented approach (based on Max Weber’s ideas). Thus, in Luhmann’s conception, systems become holistic entities that, like individual subjects, are capable of making decisions and managing themselves. One of the strengths of Luhmann’s conception is determined by his evolutionary theory consistent with random (in Luhmann’s terms - contingent) development connected with the idea of an open future. As with Parsons, in Luhmann’s conception we find emphasis on the consensus ensured by communication processes. However, what is missing, are the topics of work, production, conflict, struggle and violence. The current decline in the interest in Luhmann’s works has been reinforced by the fact that he was unable to translate his conceptions into instruments for the empirical sociological research. Nevertheless, Luhmann’s theory of a functionally differentiated society and its consequences still represents a significant stimulus for the contemporary sociological thought.

The European Union (EU) throughout its history has been the destination of diverse migratory flows. Therefore, migration has acquired special relevance by occupying a prominent position on the EU’s political, economic, cultural, and social agenda. The most recent migration crisis of 2015 represents a multidimensional challenge with severe consequences that affect, first, the institutional foundations of the EU (governance, security, solidarity of member states and institutional stability) and, second, the migratory policies of receiving states and the EU itself. This crisis is characterized, first, by the high number of illegal migrants that cross the Mediterranean, and, second, by the humanitarian tragedy and insecurity, which make the sea a grey area and an international reference in the migratory processes. The migration-security equation became a field of applied research and analysis, and at the same time a focus of political debate and public opinion. The article aims at analysing the crisis of 2015 and its consequences, which is done by means of the methodological approach based on the consequences that this phenomenon entails for the EU and for certain member states. The response of the EU is limited primarily to securitization by strengthening the external borders, turning towards internal security rather than respecting international and Community Treaties and promotion of their values, which contradicts the anticipated leadership of this global actor. The authors believe that it is necessary to implement new mechanisms in addition to ensuring greater effectiveness of the existing ones.

This article focuses on the conceptualization of the support base of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) as an indicator of solidarity, unity of the member-state population around the integration concept and condition for the EEU successful development, and also stresses the importance of social-humanitarian aspects in the construction of the EEU. Based on the results of sociological studies (1), the article identifies the dynamics of the social support of integration processes by the member-state population in 2014-2018, and notes its decrease in the majority of member-states, differentiation in integration moods by age, and factors responsible for the decrease of the EEU’s support base. The author considers main directions, practices and instruments to enhance the social support for integration, and emphasizes that the concept of solidarity is interconnected with the ideas of social stability and justice. The author refers to the works of contemporary Russian and foreign scholars who developed the methodological grounds for promoting solidarity, and identifies ways to extend the EEU’s support base. The article shows that the resource of social solidarity, unity and structural-functional integration of the EEU is in the everyday efforts to strengthen it together with the economic efficiency, and this resource can be ensured by the political and civil discourse of the member states in the field of social-humanitarian cooperation. The development of the support base for integration processes includes such practices and resources that ensure interiorization of symbols, norms, values, and solidarity of the peoples and elites of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Every civilization has specific social-cultural rituals for eating, and contemporary Japan is a particularly interesting case. The architects of the Japanese food policy use a special respect for food in two ways: first, as a tool of soft power to spread Japanese influence worldwide; second, as an effective way to ensure food security. It is the second component that interests the authors. The article identifies key issues of Japan’s food policy. Based on the institutional analysis and the food regime theory, the authors identify the structural nature of food import dependency of the Land of the Rising Sun. The combination of the comparative approach and retrospective analysis allowed to discover a number of elements that are closely connected with the idea of food sovereignty, especially the concept of shokuiku (food education). Based on the historical-genetic method, the authors suggest a cognitive route of the terminological unit “from the component of folklore to the legislative act” and identify structural-functional features of the Basic Law ( Shokuiku Kihon-ho ). The analysis of three Basic Plans for promotion of Shokuiku proved the institutional reorientation of Japan to collectivism, healthy lifestyle and dietetics of younger generations. Despite the fact that effectiveness of re-profiling was verified by empirical data, the article provides a critical analysis of shokuiku as well. The state monopoly on food knowledge and risk discourse legitimize ideologies, generate alarmist feelings and lead to food nationalism.

The article presents the data of two research projects - European Values Study (EVS) and sociological monitoring of the information field of the Republic of Belarus conducted by the Centre for Sociological and Political Studies of the Belarusian State University. The authors make the following conclusions: the basic values of the Belarusians are quite similar to the values of other European countries; the values of the Belarussians have developed for centuries under the influence of the key events in the European history; the values of society change slowly and can be transformed only in the life cycle of at least two generations; changes in the basic values are impossible under any external or internal pressure. Any attempts to quickly change value preferences of the people under pressure usually lead to the accumulation of negative moods and finally to social upheavals. Contemporary technologies open wide opportunities for informational violence and manipulation of public consciousness. The informational impact of the traditional media and the Internet (including social media) became one of the main factors affecting the structure and content of individual value orientations. The media create the sustainable intellectual background that determines the individual perception and subsequent behavioral response to events in the country and the world. The changing everyday reality forms a new value matrix, and the media become the key technological player due to the new information-communication possibilities.

The article considers the conflict factors of interethnic relations in the Russian Federation. The survey of experts, qualified professionals in the spheres of ethno-extremism and interethnic conflicts, the data of opinion polls, analysis of academic papers and relevant mass media allowed the author to identify factors that can have a negative impact on interethnic relations and provoke ethnic conflicts in the next five to seven years. The first group of factors that are highly dangerous in terms of their impact includes economic crisis, low living standards, corruption, migration, proliferation of international Islamic extremism, activities of foreign states, struggles for power and access to federal money between governing elites and ethnic groups in national republics, ineffective educational and cultural policies. The second group of negative factors with a medium impact on interethnic situation consists of activities of interethnic and ethno-religious organizations, organized crime (including ethnic), decrease in the share of Russians in the population, ineffective ethnic policy and poor performance of law enforcement agencies. The third group of factors with a modest impact consists of foreign policy and systematic violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Changes in migration patterns and structure of international migration in Russia, its shift towards more transit forms in the interests of labor market and local conditions, together with serious economic and demographic losses, determine the need to change the migration policies. Such policies, if they focus on migrants without taking into account the public opinion of the host population, cannot ensure the balance of interests and stability in the region or realization of benefits of international migration. It is the choice of the host population that determines acculturation strategies and success of adaptation and integration of migrants. Based on the data of the sociological research conducted in 2018 in the border regions of Russia, the authors claim the existence of general evaluative factor of public attitudes and present the structural model of its determination consisting of institutional characteristics of regional society and social-structural and identification characteristics of respondents. According to the results of the research, the population of border regions believe that migration does not have any positive impact on the Russian economy and cannot compensate demographic losses, and underestimate risks of discrimination and social exclusion of labor migrants. In the majority of regions studied, the general perception of migration is affected by diasporal identities and comparison of the region with ‘the rest of Russia’. The subjective assessment of personal security, financial situation, migration experience and cultural factors are important for variability of indicators or regions. The study highlights the importance of fight against ethnic prejudices and migrantophobia and of positive public opinion for the effective migration policy reflecting national interests in terms of attracting foreign human and cultural capital.

Based on the data of the sociological survey, the author considers the attitude of prosecutors to their own independence and to the circumstances that can affect it. The questionnaire focused on the opinions of prosecutors and various aspects of the impact on their decisions: higher management, pressure from the media, representatives of state authorities, etc. The results of the survey prove that the relationship between the higher management and public authorities in the field of their impact on the independence of prosecutors has both functional-hierarchical and real reasons. The study revealed a coincidence of the high level of dependence on the authorities with the high level of management interference in the procedural activities of prosecutors, which allows to suggest that in most cases officials put pressure on prosecutors through their higher management. The results of the survey show that with experience the level of critical evaluation of authorities’ attempts to influence the process and the results of the prosecutors’ work increases. If young professionals do not feel rejection when face the intervention of the authorities, then with the growth of experience negative assessments of such actions appear and gradually strengthen. At the same time, the revealed indicators do not allow to say that for inexperienced prosecutors at the first stages of their professional development the phenomenon of power is unknown or unclear. On the contrary, they are familiar with it and feel the most favorable attitude towards it.

Improving the quality of students’ life is an important task for every university and the educational system as a whole, which fits into the aims of the studies of the social dimension of students’ life. To solve this task, the study of students’ problems is a priority, while the second step can be the creation of university structures that would solve these problems effectively. The article presents an ideal model of the consulting center that can solve such problems. The authors conducted four focus groups in the RUDN University with students of different courses from different countries, and used projective techniques and group discussions to identify models of the consulting center, departments that it should consist of, and qualities of employees working in these departments. The general model of the consulting center includes an information department as its ‘core’ responsible for the distribution of students’ requests to necessary departments; IT department (site, corporate mail, etc.); department of social support (scholarships, financial support, etc.); residence department (registration, dormitory, etc.); department of science and education (grants, competitions, etc.); student committee (leisure). The students prefer to receive all necessary information online, by phone and also in person. The preferred social network for information is Facebook - for foreigners - and VK (Vkontakte) - for Russian students. The students also mentioned three main languages for distribution of information - Russian, English and Chinese. The focus-groups allowed to find out that although some necessary units designed to solve students’ problems already exist, they do not actually solve them due to bureaucratic or other reasons. Therefore, the proposed model of the consulting center can be an effective management solution ‘from the bottom’ that would help the university to communicate with students and to understand their real needs.

Identity is one of the most complex and multidimensional terms of social sciences and humanities, which attracts attention of many intellectuals and researchers. We are social beings; thus, we have social identities. Our social life is impossible without a framework and basis for developing social and individual identities - without them no one can build meaningful or consistent relationships with other people. Social identity as the basis for identifying socially significant “similarities” and “differences” between individual and collective actors allows for continuous communication and sustainable interaction in the community. Explanations of social identity and factors influencing its cannot be limited to any theory or scientific school. Thus, the authors study the concept of social identity as defined by theories of macro- and micro-levels, and also by theories of social order and integration. The article starts with the macro-sociology theorists E. Durkheim and M. Castells and considers such concepts as “mechanical solidarity”, “organic solidarity”, “legitimizing identity”, “resistance identity” and “project identity”. The authors consider the views of representatives of the symbolic interactionism focusing on the concepts of “self” and “mind”, primarily in the theory of G.H. Mead; the ideas of Ch.H. Cooley based on the concepts of “looking-glass self” and “primary group”; the works of M. Rosenberg devoted to “self-concept”; the theories of H. Tajfel and A. Giddens describing identity and its varieties; and, finally, the views of P. Bourdieu and R. Jenkins. The authors conduct a kind of the preliminary comparison of the mentioned approaches to identify the features of their theoretical argumentation and the role of ‘identity’ in the theory of social order and theoretical-methodological dilemma ‘subject-structure’.

The article is a review-reflection on the book by I. Kaspe In Alliance with Utopia. Semantic Frontiers of the Late Soviet Culture (Moscow: New Literary Review; 2018. 432 p.). Despite the fact that the title emphasizes the word ‘utopia’, the author prefers a broad interpretation of the ‘utopian’ concept - as a kind of conceptual context which serves as a framework that makes ‘ultimate’ meanings and values of the Soviet culture (socialism) as if ‘visible’. It may seem strange at first glance, but actually these meanings and values concentrate ‘around’ different interpretations of heroism and happiness. The article reconstructs the author’s narrative logic together with the formal structure of the book, which helps the author to prove to readers (with varying degrees of credibility) the heuristic potential of utopia as an analytical research metaphor. In particular, from the first to the final parts of the book (and the author honestly informs readers in the beginning that the book is a collection of the revised articles that were published previously, but later were adapted for the task of the historical-phenomenological analysis of the perception of utopia and combined into four thematic sections) the author develops her own concept of utopia focusing rather on different attitudes to the utopian thinking than on different interpretations of utopia in different historical periods.