Ethnic policy of Russia in the Arctic: basic approaches and principles

The need to account the regional specific of the ethnic policy making and its practice in the AZRF is grounded on 2 contrary management approaches: economic- technocratic approach and political-humanitarian approach. Indigenous peoples are considered to be the subject and the object of the state ethnic policy of Russia. 2 issues are analyzed: 1) conditions for the preservation and development of indigenous peoples, historically living in the area; contributions to their cultural diversity; improvement of the living standards; 2) social integration of internal and external migrants. It is noted that there are three imperative approaches to the state policy towards small-numbered ethnic groups of the North: the state-paternalistic, liberal market and neo-traditionalist approaches. Prospects of mutually- interacting state and indigenous peoples discussed in the context of supra-ethnic identity — indigenous peoples, “local” people.