Ethno-cultural landscape of the Russian Arctic: from the conceptualization of knowledge to the management of conflicts

Conceptualization of knowledge in the Arctic Studies with the use of operational definitions and other techniques

At the first stage of any research especially if you’re a part of an interdisciplinary team, it is relevant to use the operational definitions, which, according to W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993), provide the ability to transfer an unambiguous meaning with the help of concepts. “Operational definition allows us shaping the concept and to make it clear” [1, Ch. 9]. Operational definitions do not allow ambiguity and moreover they consist of criterion for decision making. They could be used both in theory and practice. If a need to clarify the basic concepts (definitions, terms) occurs and that is of practical importance, they allow professionals to navigate better within the theoretical issues, adequately understand them and systematically use to reproduce scientific vocabulary.

The conceptualization of knowledge on the Russian Arctic is carried out methodologically, taking into account the phased technology “step by step”, where each step is associated with a specific system unit (stage) of tasks in a dynamic sequence of specific process: conceptualization of knowledge and modeling, Arctic ethnic monitoring, ethnic policy development, management strategies, localization of policy in 4 subjects and 16 municipalities of the Russian Arctic, generalization and introduction of best practices. And then feedback to correct the management, policy, legislation and application of laws (Pic.1).

Picture 1. Transition model from conceptualization to management/ Y.F. Lukin

Schematically, it is possible to portray it as an ongoing dialectical process of development from theory to practice, where each step is possible and desirable its operating sequence and dynamics of activities, the use of various technologies both on conceptual and theoretical level and in management of regions.

There is no doubt that the task requires an interdisciplinary, multi-level approach, the synthesis of theory and practice, predefined by characteristics of the human and social knowledge. Nobody, especially in the harsh conditions of the Arctic and the North, can exist outside of society. Ethnic beginning at the same time is reflected in the social and cultural dimensions. Therefore, the study of ethnic tensions needs the concepts of ethno-cultural and ethno-social content. Focus of the work and ethnological monitoring should not only be done on the study of the social sphere, which is certainly important, but on conflict and ethnic interaction in the sphere of culture in order to understand the peculiarities of life of indigenous peoples of the North. It is desirable to clarify the hypothesis that the social and not cultural tensions in ethnic relations, civic and not ethnic identity are more important in the Arctic and in the North. In the protest potential social motives prevail, rarely taking a political and national coloration like in Ukraine. Is the same possible in the Russian Arctic? - this question has yet to find the answers.

From the standpoint of psychological science, there is a shift in the psychological analysis of interethnic relations from the study of individual conflicts to the analysis of inter-ethnic tensions as a phenomenological psychological area , and ethnic tensions as the ethno-social systems that enables the development of a constructive approach to the content-dynamic model of diagnosing the interethnic relations and prediction of their development [2]. This is not just a study of conflict but possible constructive potential of interethnic relations, preservation and development of ethnic tolerance in the Northern societies. A significant role in the prevention of interpersonal, interethnic conflicts is undoubtedly played by a psychological and communicative approach to conflict prevention: a balanced socio-psychological interaction between ethnic groups, preserving the reputation of the partner, exclusion of social and ethnic discrimination, division of merits, empathy, and other well-known psychological conflict resolution techniques.

The problem is obviously a practical and means that in order to use effective methods there is a need for indicators of different scientific origin at the right time and right place. We are talking not only about the formal integration of scientific knowledge, but also of an interdisciplinary research teams, their management, funding spent on a single roadmap work.

In terms of concepts, despite all mentioned above, it is important to clarify meaning of concepts and terms, as global and regional dimensions of the Arctic and North, in order to reach the level of operational definitions and provide better understanding. Setting up the issue of global and regional dimensions of the Arctic and North is necessary here and now for adequate understanding of the research objectives, especially if we are aware of the fact that scientist use different explanations for concepts “Arctic” and “Russian Arctic”. Arctic as a multi-faceted facility is examined in a variety of scientific fields and disciplines, so it is practically impossible to express clearly the entire conceptualized polyphony of the large Arctic space. In Arctic studies we often implement an approach from the standpoint of a particular narrow scientific area of the authors, which is always like a one-sided flux in the knowledge of a complex object.

The global dimension relevant to the Arctic exists for eight Arctic countries (AC-8): Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, the USA, Sweden and Finland, which have northern territories beyond the Arctic Circle. Five of them (AC-5) — Denmark, Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States, according to the UNCLOS, own land, have their territorial waters in the Arctic Ocean and exclusive economic zones (EEZ). In the world there is no country with all of its land, including the islands, situated in the circumpolar area. When we call these eight northern countries “subarctic” instead of “Arctic”, we are emphasizing one important geopolitical feature.

The regional dimension takes into account the population and territory of the Arctic provinces, states, areas and municipalities located above the Arctic Circle. Due to the fact that the concept of “region” is not clear, it is possible to take as a working tool the following interpretation and typology: The region is considered as a type of the 21^st century reality: landscape and geographical, administrative and territorial, cultural and socio and economic area with climatic and other differences from neighboring areas.

In the ”Arctic strategy of the United States”2 the explanation of the term “Arctic” is represented in a broad variant. In «Finland’s Strategy for the Arctic Region 2013», adopted on the 23rd of August 2013, the term “Arctic region” is used3.

In Russia, the region is identified as the subject of the federation. The typology of the modern Russian Federation’s regions includes three main models. Micro-region — municipalities, selfgoverning communities, inter-municipal association, agglomerations. Mezoregions — 85 subjects of the Russian Federation or the 85 regions of different scale: 22 republics, 9 territories, 46 regions, 3 cities of federal significance, 1 autonomous region, 4 autonomous districts. Four of the subjects of the Russian Federation and parts of three more regions are included in the Russian Arctic. Macro-regions - nine federal districts, four zones — West, East, the Arctic (North), South Russia.

Regarding the relationship between the concepts “Arctic” and “North” it should be noted, for example, the concept of “Canada's North” is broader than the concept of “Canadian Arctic” and geographically includes some land south of the Arctic Circle (Nunavut, Yukon). Not by chance in 2009, Canada's strategy was published under the title «Canada's Northern Strategy: our North, our heritage, our future»4. North has traditionally been seen as an integral part of the Canadian identity, and “Nordicité” as a special way of life. Unlike Canada's strategy the Danish concept of “North” is not actually used. “Kongeriget Danmarks Strategi for Arktis 2011-2020” directed to the benefits of the inhabitants of the Arctic and means respect for the rights of indigenous peoples to use their own resources and develop, respect for indigenous culture, traditions and way of life and the promotion of their rights5.

Russian Arctic (RA), Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) — are synonyms and are usually understood as a part of the Russian North which includes AZRF on a principle of “matryoshka”. The term “North” is geopolitically correlated with tellurocracy, i.e. land power associated with the development of continental Eurasia.

Russian Arctic, after the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, consists of the northern land territory only (Annex to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, May 2, 2014 № 296). The radical the difference between RA and the AZRF today is that the concept of “Russian Arctic” also includes the seas of the Arctic Ocean and the waters of the Northern Sea Route, which in accordance with international law, the jurisdiction of Russian state. The federal law, that defines the legitimate boundaries of the Russian Arctic, is not accepted by now (November 2015). In my opinion, we can formulate a definition of the Russian Arctic, which will fully correspond to the legal field of the Russian Arctic (very important conceptually and practically):

“ Arctic zone of the Russian Federation — the inland sea territorial waters, the exclusive economic zone of the waters of the Barents, White, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi seas, the continental shelf, defined in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the water area of the Northern Sea Route as a historically established National Route of the Russian Federation, all land and islands in the Arctic Ocean opened and possible to be open in the future, overland northern territories of the Russian Federation and municipalities on the coast of northern seas bordering the Arctic Ocean that ensure the security of the Russian state”"/ Lukin Y.F.

Territorial inland waters (12 nautical miles), the exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles), the continental shelf (350 nautical miles) — the terms of international law, the UNCLOS. Their use in the Federal Law “On the Russian Arctic” is quite correlated with the international legal practice.

“NSR waters” is used in the law adopted on the 28th of July 2012 N 132-FZ “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation regarding state regulation of merchant shipping in the waters of the Northern Sea Route”. The concept of national NSR waters is very important to mention the new law “On the development of the Russian Arctic” to resist the efforts to internationalize Arctic communications and the Northern Sea Route.

The thesis of “land and islands in the Arctic Ocean opened here, and possible to be open in the future” is in the Resolution of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, April 15, 1926 “On the declaring lands and islands in the Arctic Ocean the territory of the USSR”. Climate change may contribute to the emergence of new islands and would increase ownership of the polar areas of the RF. It is important to note that in the oceans a reason for a struggle could be even the smallest rocks. In order to legitimate and clarify the composition of the Russian Arctic, we should address the geopolitical, social and environmental significance of the problem, the security of the Russian state; we should make the information available to the whole of society, and to publish the full list of all the Russian islands in the seas of the Arctic Ocean under the by-law, “the State Register of Russian islands in the seas of the Arctic Ocean” that indicates the actual status of each of the Arctic islands and its departmental affiliation and the specific responsible organization that is responsible for the possession, control, protection of the environment of the islands’ territory and waters.

Thus, within every country of the Arctic (AC-8) there is a circumpolar territory, the high latitudes. Naturally, the Chukotka Autonomous Area and Finnmark as parts of Russia and Norway are playing the role of actors at the regional level, but they do not have the international importance in geopolitics without the state itself. And there is a permanent conflict there - a clash of different interests related to the desire of the northern regional societies to act as political actors, defending the rights of indigenous peoples to the resources of their home territories. Investigation of this problem certainly requires an analysis of existing ethnic and cultural landscape.

Ethnic and cultural landscape of the Russian Arctic in the light of the global trends for disappearance of traditional cultures and languages

Landscape and geographical environment, nature, flora and fauna, land and water, common territory, the available resources have always played an important role in the development of the northern ethnic groups. The structure of the Arctic landscape typically includes the development of the Arctic and anthropogenic landscapes, cultural landscapes, history and culture together with the surroundings [3]. For this article, it is significant to speak about cultural and social dimensions of ethnic and cultural landscape of the Russian Arctic. The key socio-cultural dominants, in my view, is to analyze the dynamics of the population and its ethnic composition, as well as contemporary issues of language diversity.

Humanized landscape of the Russian Arctic includes ethnic, multi-cultural, socio-economic space and a population of 2.5 million people (2012).

Table 1

№	The state	Arctic regions, provinces	Population
1	Russia	Murmansk region	796,1
		Arkhangelsk region: municipalities in the WS and islands in the AO	661,8
		Nenets Autonomous Okrug	42,6
		The Republic of Karelia: three municipalities along the White Sea coast	51,6
		Komi Republic: Vorkuta	95,8
		Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug	522,8
		Krasnoyarsk Region: Taimyr, Norilsk, Igarka	216,8
		The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) - 11 ulus	64,7
		Chukotka Autonomous Okrug	50,5
		Total in the Russian Arctic	2 502
2	USA	Alaska	710
3	Norway	Finnmark, Troms, Nordland, Svalbard	466
4	Iceland		311
5	Sweden	Norrbotten	260
6	Finland	Lapland	184
7	Canada	Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik	120
8	Denmark	Greenland	58
		Total in 7 Arctic countries (excluding the Russian Federation)	2 109
		Total in Circumpolar world	4 611

The population of the Arctic, thousand people (2012)

Only in the Russian Arctic there is more people than in the Arctic regions of the seven other Arctic countries in the world combined. These indicators are the most powerful argument in the geopolitical intrigues, alleged Russian empty space, which urgently need to internationalize, to learn by capturing and assignment of foreign lands and wealth. The culture of the peoples of the Arctic and the North, as part of a global polyculture certainly includes cultural universals that are inherent in all cultures, regardless of geographic location, historical time, and social structure of society. This not only material objects, things, buildings, tools, household items, clothing, jewelry, and patterns — relatively stable and repetitive ways of perceiving, feeling, thinking, activities, behavior, including customs, rites, rituals, symbols, spiritual values and norms, ideas, faith and knowledge.

A special place in ethnic palette of cultures of our multinational country is occupied by 40 indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East 6. According to the 2010 census, about 258,000 people live in extreme climatic conditions, have the nomadic way of life and traditional economy 7. It's only 10% of the total population of the Russian Arctic, more than 80% of which is urbanized, is living in cities and urban-type settlements.

In the study of ethnic tensions in the Russian Arctic is necessary to take into account the trends that determine the international ethno-cultural situation. Arctic ethno-cultural landscape is an integral part of the global landscape, including 10 000 cultures and 6 900 languages 8. At the same time, in all regions of the world in the 21st century we observe the extinction of traditional cultures, languages, ethnic groups and small communities. Traditions are forgotten and vulnerable cultures are marginalized or even disappear altogether. During the opening of the International Year of Languages (2008) it was noted: “Now each of 90% of the languages is spoken by less than 100 thousand people. 357 languages have no more than 50 vehicles. And yet the existence of 46 languages is spoken by only one person”9. Every two weeks a language dies, and disappears culture, knowledge, unique thinking. And indigenous, so-called "hidden knowledge", is often oral and marginalized, saved only by the descriptions of folklorists, historians, ethnological sciences, psychology of everyday life. But even in this form of the traditional “invisible” knowledge remains mostly a narrow practical, very different from the scientific and technical knowledge. In economics, politics, management, law, science, education today we mainly use clear and accessible to all “explicit” or codified, ordered knowledge, including a modern information infrastructure. In this regard we get a questions about a radical reduction in linguistic diversity, which allegedly impedes the development and distribution of education, language of mass communication. Out of this impasse, as the UNESCO sees it, is to keep a balance between languages. For example, through the establishment of dual training courses, giving access to scientific knowledge and etc. To do this, one must have developed technology as long as it is the best mediator between the cultural and linguistic diversity and the universality of knowledge10.

In the Russian Arctic proceed cultural processes that are typical for the entire global society, but no large-scale manifestations of radical forms of protest and ethnic extremism. Languages, and with them the culture, as well as people, their carriers to adapt to the new reality of XXI century. An analysis of the 2002 census, 2010. shows, for example, that in the XXI century, continues the natural process of dying Nenets language on the mental level. In 2010 indicated Russian language skills 94.4% Russian Nenets and Nenets only 45.28%. Part of the Nenets, not owning the Nenets language, says it is still native. Psychologically, it is at the level of mentality can explain the deep desire to preserve their culture, their native roots. To some extent, this is also the internal opposition to oust the trend of daily use of their native language, the spiritual latent protest. At the same time comes to replace the outgoing new generation of young Nenets has a different mentality of consuming products of mass culture, using modern information and communication technologies (ICT). Among the Nenets ethnic group is observed a permanent loss of their native language, accelerating urbanization, assimilation, change of ethnic identity due to the mixed marriages. Russian language is at homes, communications, food consumption, mass culture actually is gradually replacing the native language not only in case of the Nenets but in other indigenous groups.

However, carriers of Nenets language are still exist. According to the census, the total number of the Nenets for 1926—2010 years increased from 18 to 44 thousand, or 2.4 times. Therefore, Nenets ethnic extinction, depopulation, of course, are not discussed. Moreover, they may even increase and become more than 50 thousand people in 2025-2030 because of the of opportunities they have and the growth of the birth rate and life expectancy [4, p. 33—34]. Increase is observed in the number of Indigenous Peoples (Evenk, Yukagir, Dolgan and Chukchi) in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): from 28.2 thousand in 1989 to 40.2 thousand in 2010, but here for 1989-2010 we have the reduce in the number of Evens: from 10.6 to 9.8 thousand [5, p. 38].

A positive example of ethnic policy is shown by Taimyr Dolgan-Nenets Municipal District, where the project “language nest”, “ethno-pedagogical and national linguistic components in an elementary school education” and municipal competition of arts and crafts “Taimyr Rainbow”, municipal Competition in the native language, are carried out and there are also new approaches to the educational and training process of children of nomads, the development of crafts and arts and crafts in the educational environment. A project “Russian literature in the languages of ethnic groups of Taimyr”. During the competition, they select a literary work, which will then be translated into five languages of indigenous peoples of Taimyr 11. This work is done in other regions, municipalities and autonomous regions of the Russian North.

As for science, it should be noted that the system contributes to a comprehensive study of the ethnogenesis, the transformation of traditional cultures and the specific mentality, development of languages, ethnic culture and history of the peoples of northeast Russia done by the Institute of

Humanitarian Research and Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences in Yakutsk, Director of the Institute — Honored Scientist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize of Russia, doctor of historical sciences, Professor A. N. Alekseev. Multicolor socio-ethnical picture of the northern territories is presented in articles published by the journal “Arctic and North”: the interaction of regional authorities and indigenous peoples (I.S. Astakhov), the daily life of national settlements of Yakutia, in the context of sociological research (S.M. Baisheva), the portrait of a resident of the Arctic zone of Yakutia (U.S. Borisov), Russian old residents of Yakutia: the culture and landscape (S.I. Boyakov), traditional economic activities — etno-social lifestyle (V.I. Kirko and K. N. Zakharov), the state policy in the field of language preservation (N.P. Koptseva), changes in life strategies and economic behavior of youth in the Arctic on materials Ust-Yana region (O.V. Osipova), the demographic potential of the northern regions of Russia as a factor of economic Arctic exploration (V.V. Fauzer) and others 12.

It is obvious that the key areas of the Russian state ethnic policy in the Russian Arctic in the linguistic and cultural sphere are to ensure effective access of indigenous peoples to the use a codified knowledge, cyberspace, promotion of multilingualism, double, and perhaps triple, educational courses in their native language, the language of interethnic and international communication, translation into indigenous languages. In addition to the good intentions, not only political will is required but also adequate resources, including human, investment, effective implementation of the adopted national and regional programs, the federal program.

Arctic ethnological monitoring l, a methodological, conceptual

1 Отношения сотрудничества –           Напряженность – Отношения               -Несогласие — примирения —              - Соперничество - '  Отношения               - спор — противодействия – - Враждебность - "'- • Отношения S?^ противоречия —             -Агрессивность — Непримиримые            - Насилие — отношения                  -Война . (шкала Ж. Фовэ)                 (шкала М. Амстутца)

-Стадия зарождения конфликта -Стадия развития: -Информационное противоборство -Энергетическое противоборство - Стадия трансформации (циклы, перемирие)

Picture 2. Intensity of conflict

and theoretical training. In this regard, we note that the ethnic tensions and conflicts are always social, their carriers are people and social communities. Social and ethnic tensions in Russian society now are large due to the reproduction of social anomie, which leads to increased stratification, the threat of unemployment, social insecurity, insecurity. Methodological analysis of social anomie op- erationalize the appropriate methodology and a list of indicators of its reproduction, such as social and psychological well-being, the identity of the social and national, social and political activity and protest potential, relation to power structures, justice, social and economic situation, the suicide rate [6, p. 4, 19].

Disputed interaction between social and ethnic communities in society that manifests itself not only due to differences of cultural values, but also due to discrepancies between the expected quality of life and a practical appreciation of the whole spectrum of needs. The main factors of inter-ethnic tensions are now increasingly include uncontrolled migration, a change in the ratio of ethnic groups and influence as a result of the newly established diasporas, socio-economic depression, leading to “find those responsible” and xenophobia, the problem of the titular ethnic groups, ethnic nationalism (not just Russian, but also ethnic minority nationalism), ethnization of domestic and social conflicts, the spread of radical Islam, including those related to the 2014— 2015, ISIS that recruits supporters in Russia.

It is important to do early detection of latent ethnic tensions and the emergence of spontaneous protest, content analysis of records in social networks, as a marker of sentiments in a particular regional society. It should be borne in mind that tension, disagreement, the dispute is only a beginning of a conflict situation, but it may, in its dynamics lead to hostility, aggression, violence and war at the height of the conflict confrontation (Picture 2 Intensity of conflict). Similarly, the pre-conflict situations are transformed into an information and power confrontation in the second stage of the conflict.

In a study of ethnic tensions it is important to understand the terms “ethnic identity” or “eth-nicity”13. Samuel Huntington (1927—2008) pointed out that cultural identities — ethnic, national, religious, civilizational — enjoy a commanding position in the world today, determine the model of cohesion, disintegration and conflict. “People define themselves using terms such as origin, religion, language, history, values, customs and social institutions. They identify themselves with cultural groups: tribes, ethnic groups, religious communities, nations, and at the broadest level civilization“ — he wrote in his “Clash of Civilizations” [7, p. 6], predicting intensification of tribal, ethnic and religious conflicts, the growth of the number of refugees to tens of millions, the spread of terrorism, widespread massacres and ethnic cleansing, the disintegration of states. In today's world really “aggravated is a struggle for national and religious identity and self-determination for the redistribution of boundaries on ethnic and religious lines. There is a growing number of conflicts for ethnic and religious slogans “[8].

The new Russian identity, as noted by Professor L.M. Drobizheva, head of research of international relations at the Institute of Sociology — is a complex conglomerate of nostalgic Soviet, social, regional, local, ethno-cultural and religious identities. Over 90% identify themselves as citizens of Russia [9, c. 269]. However, according to results of sociological research in various regions of the Russian Federation, in varying degrees it is recorded the spread of xenophobia — fear of the other, as well as radical anti-migrant sentiments of nationalism. The general trend of interethnic conflict in modern Yakutia, for example, is obvious — the confrontation between migrants and “local” population, regardless of their race or nationality14.

On the general background of the global crisis and permanent changes, the situation in the Arctic is often evaluated as a sustainable stability. The concept of “stability” is perceived as the shade of a certain stagnation, conservation of existing socio-ethnic and international relations, although it would not reflected fully all the content of the definition. Under ethnic stability, in my opinion, it is correct to understand the sustainable socio- economic and cultural development of a progressive nature and not to exclude a permanent changes, as opposed to the immutability of frozen traditional ethno-cultural space. How big is the margin of stability in the Arctic? — we cannot provide scientifically sound answers to this question, although the forecast of estimates and publications on these topics are not enough as well as the monitoring data.

A monitoring of ethnic and religious situation in the regions of Russia conducted by the Center for the study of ethnic conflict15 shows that from the 1st of September 2013 to 20th of March 2014 in Russia there were 570 ethnically motivated acts of conflict of varying intensity (from placing xenophobic content on the Internet to the mass clashes with weapons and death)16. In the spring and autumn of 2014 it was recorded a decline in the number of manifestations of ethnic hatred by 35% 17.

Picture3. URL:

With regard to the problem of the northern territories, it is still noted that the most of the violent conflict were in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District and they were against people from the Caucasus (Dagestanis, Chechens), and labor migrants from Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajiks). The second issue (spring — autumn 2014) emphasized that the situation continues to deteriorate in the Khanty area: uncontrolled migration, expansion of radical Islam and a powerful economic competition had a conflict potential. On the interactive map of both reports, all the regions of the Arctic and the Russian North have been painted in the colors of low and very low tension and so these areas were not a part of the core risks of high and medium tension. In Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and Tyumen regions, Republic of Karelia, Komi, Sakha (Yakutia) and in the Yamalo-Nenets district, in the spring and autumn of 2014 there were recorded nonviolent conflict activities; sporadic acts of violence; numerous conflicting actions on the Internet. In the Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous District, Magadan region, the Perm Region there was an absent of violet actions or rare non-violent actions. I noted that these two reports conducted mostly no conflict itself, but only on the conflict situations that could be developed, but were not able to be transformed into an acute conflict confrontation in the regions of the Russian Arctic.

It must be borne in mind that the Russian experience of ethnological monitoring over a long period and a high scientific level had been tested before. In 1993, Russia had started the Net of ethnological monitoring and early warning of conflicts. It was done by the Early Warning governmental expert organization (EAWARN). The network has published 19 reports on ethno-political situation in Russia and neighboring countries, hundreds of special papers, a series of case reports and books. In

1996—2001 years they published “Ethnic Monitoring Models”. The network was managed by a well-known Russian scientist, academician V.A. Tishkov, a former director of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, and since July 2015 — a Supervisor of IEA RAS. Currently, the Institute has a Center of ethno-political research. The experience the EAWARN has is undoubtedly very significant during such kind of work.

Since July 2014 Russia created a unified system of monitoring international relations, to prevent possible ethnic conflicts 18. The number of pilot regions to test such a system includes 17 subjects of the Russian Federation (their composition is specified). The Northern Territories included in the project: the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District. Administration of rural settlement Alyabevsky KhMAD carried out a monitoring of 8 areas:

• 1.    Activities of religious organizations on territory of the rural settlements.

• 2.    The activities of non-profit organizations established by national line.

• 3.    The impact of migration processes on crimes with participation of foreign citizens.

• 4.    Public events: meetings, demonstrations, processions, etc.

• 5.    Appeals to the local government authorities (LGA) of individuals and entities.

• 6.    Activities of informal youth associations in the rural settlement.

• 7.    Print media on the territory of the rural settlements.

• 8.    Fast response to extremism: outcome of law enforcement agencies and information sent to LGA on extremism; prevention activities carried out by LGA vs extremism, including information and propaganda of efforts to prevent extremism, availability and publication of Municipal legislation and action plans aimed at preventing extremism on religious grounds, the activities of advisory bodies to combat extremist activities, inter-ethnic issues ¹⁹.

The number of indicators on these eight areas was close to 80. The abundance of collected data, and even at the level of the grassroots municipal settlements, in the absence of professionally trained staff (at least the last minimum training), exacerbates the problem of verification, validity, reliability of the information received and successfully contributes to the bureaucratization of the whole process of monitoring. How reliable is the correlation between data and relevant departmental institutions — remains in question. Duplicate sources of information always require a thorough comparative analysis. Of course, the pilot project is just aiming for the experiment and testing, but the efficiency of the overall monitoring of the project is in doubt.

The newly created Federal Agency for Nationalities tasked “to try to calculate the risks, accumulate proposals to create programs that offer solutions to the various problems and, accordingly, for these tasks to implement certain projects” 20. The monitoring system will be based on data of Rosstat, the FSB, the Federal Security Service, Interior Ministry, the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, IT-programs. Obtaining reliable data will largely depend on the interfacing software, sociology and expertise, as well as the competencies of staff at all levels, receiving and processing information.

It should be emphasized that the processes of assessment and management of ethnic conflicts in the region are closely connected and interdependent on their modeling, monitoring and management. It is important to understand that the individual measurements in the Arctic and the North of Russia do not give the desired result in the study of all the sets of stress and conflict. Monitoring inherent modeling tools of empirical research of regional conflicts on the basis of the conceptual data and management — “Modeling (programming) the effective practical measures to resolve them in accordance with the received specific empirical evidence” [10, p. 15—16]. Therefore, the Arctic ethnological monitoring is needed not only to secure the emerging “The Grapes of Wrath” but also to make informed decisions on the prevention of conflicts and their resolution. According to the results of a localized actual tension in interethnic relations, analyzes the emerging conflict situations (defined subject of the conflict, at least two of its sides and other participants) and predicted the possibility of transforming the conflict situation in the energy and information warfare during the second phase of the conflict and its completion in the third phase .

I would also like to stress that the practical application of certain indicators in the Arctic Ethnic Monitoring does not cancel the holding of scientific research and the formation of databases on several subject sections. Subjects of this kind are grouped in7 blocks.

• 1.    The demographic composition, abundance, fertility, mortality, and social and ethnic structure the population by census and surveys, analysis of emerging issues of civil and ethnic and cultural identity.

• 2.    Cultural and linguistic situation, the dynamics of the life of the indigenous languages of the North, the problem of linguistic diversity, education and translation.

• 3.    Distribution of religious denominations of Christianity (Orthodoxy, Protestantism, and Catholicism), Islam, sectarianism, traditional beliefs of the peoples (ancestor worship, animism, fetishism, magic, shamanism) and analysis emerging conflict situations in the 21^st century. Value orientation and mentality of indigenous peoples of the North.

• 4.    Quality of life, health, social unity of the population. Human Development Index (HDI), creativity,

• 5.    Existing resource use problems of the IP, vital abilities of the traditional economy (reindeer herding, fishing, hunting, gathering), nomadic tribal communities, employment, creating new jobs (quota allocation) in the leading sectors of the economy for the indigenous peoples of the North.

• 6.    Interethnic problems of internal and external migration, mobility, xenophobia in the regions and municipalities of the Arctic and the North by results monitoring (here it is important to use dynamics of conflict situations, “hot ethnic points”).

• 7.    Political, legal attitudes of the federal, regional and municipal authorities, businesses and the local population, including the problems of development, family resources, environment, development of social and transport infrastructure and territories of traditional management.

happiness, tolerance in the Russian Arctic and Far North. Investments, building and development of human capital of the northern territories of Russia.

Obviously, this list could be supplemented and changed. Unfortunately, the analysis of the situation in the Russian Arctic has a difficulty with accessing the bases of the regional police and security services, crime statistics, information on the socio-ethnic protest. However, a control over the conflict interaction in the northern societies is necessary today, here and now, that is aimed at the all-Russian monitoring system of interethnic relations, if it will not “bureaucracised” at all levels of federal, regional and municipal management.

Conflict management in the AZRF

My author's position is to recognize the universality of the management of social and ethnic conflicts in human societies and organizations. However, flexibility does not deny, but on the contrary, requires consideration of social and ethnic characteristics of the Russian Arctic and the emerging field of the real situation. On the occurrence of “hot points” in the ethnic relations, the regions are able to exert influence of both long unsolvable problems of internal social and economic development and external actors of soft power. Prevention of social and ethnic conflicts in the Arctic is aimed to create favorable conditions for the entire population in the north here and now.

Regarding the problematic issues, it should be noted that the Russian Federation has not yet been completed even zoning of the Russian Arctic and the Russian North, securing the legitimate boundaries of their territories and waters. Endless discussion of the new zoning of the Russian Far North, the relevant criteria, indicators, preferences, privileges bogged down in the bureaucratic machinery of the Russian state. Developed Arctic strategy, program of social and economic development are largely declarative, not backed by financial and other resources. It is no coincidence therefore preparing a new edition of the State program of the Russian Federation

“Social-economic development of the Russian Arctic until 2020” 21. Expert Council on the Arctic and Antarctic to the Council of the Federation (Chairman of the Expert Council — V. A. Shtyrov) in 2015 discussed the concept of the draft federal law “On special conditions of social and economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation”. However, the draft Law, on the 17th of November 2015 had been already called “On the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation”, which again shows a deficit of investment and other resources to address social and economic problems of the Russian Arctic. It makes no sense to include obviously impracticable social obligations, benefits to the population, indigenous peoples, as well as preferences for business entities of the Russian Federation and municipal entities of the Russian Arctic.

However, the urgent need to modernize the Russian legislation on indigenous peoples of the Arctic and the Russian North remains relevant. Constructive Resolution of social and ethnic conflicts is a priori based on the application of the law (by law, not by the rules), the use of regulatory mechanisms and institutions (courts, prosecutors, and others), informal procedures: arbitration, negotiation, mediation. All this may give the result only if the local law enforcement practice perfected, the effectiveness of which, unfortunately, in the regions of Russia is still leaves much to be desired.

The constant tension in relations with the government is defending the rights of indigenous peoples to the resources of their territory of residence. The provisions of existing Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On the territories of traditional nature use of indigenous peoples” are not directly applicable and practically implemented. In fact, all undermined the material basis of existence of the indigenous population of the North, in the Arctic — destroyed traditional economies (reindeer herding, fishing, hunting, etc.), and there is a need to work in the priority sectors of the economy where indigenous peoples are hardly involved, — stated A.A. Pakhomov and T.S. Mostakhova [5, p. 39-41].

We are specifically talking about the right to free use of land and water bodies in places of traditional residence, preservation and development of their native language, traditions and culture, a simplified procedure for access to aquatic biological resources, special regime of forest management, state support indigenous communities. At a meeting of the presidium of the State Commission for the Development of the Arctic on the 5th of October 2015 there have been instructions to work out the amendments to the legislation of the Russian Federation on fisheries and conservation of aquatic biological resources, and to provide fishing grounds without tenders to persons belonging to indigenous peoples and their communities, in order to ensure traditional way of life and pursuing the traditional economic activity and etc.

However, some regional initiatives are puzzling. So, one of the governor suddenly proposed to rename the list of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East: “In my opinion, this document should renamed and be a list of indigenous peoples of the Arctic, Siberia and Far East” 22. However, it is known that northern Russia actually includes the high Arctic (the Arctic — part of the North, the North is broader than the concept of the Arctic). In the Arctic, there are simply no indigenous peoples who were not a part of the list of IP of the North, Siberia and the Far East.

It should also be noted that some of the issues are used as tools of soft power: politicization of ethnicity north in particular. One example is the inclusion of Pomors in the list of indigenous peoples of the European North of Russia 23. Preferences for indigenous peoples today objectively create tensions with other indigenous peoples, with the old residents, including Pomors, as if these people are not northerners and live completely in other climatic conditions, not right there, in the municipal settlements, engaging one and the same fisheries for centuries to survive. Here, however, nothing had changed for a long time.

I believe that the policy of paternalism of indigenous peoples will certainly be needed to continue in view of the fact that northern ethnic groups are the most vulnerable and require more attention from the state and society. Realizing this, the participants of the parliamentary hearings organized by the State Duma Committee on Nationalities on the 23rd of April 2015, discussed the draft of the Federal Law N 42057-6 “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On guarantees of the rights of indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation” and some legislative acts of the Russian Federation in order to clarify the conceptual apparatus, determining the order of reference for the citizens willing to be recognized as the indigenous people of the Russian Federation. The approval is needed for methodologies for compensating the damages for the IP areas. It was also discussed a concept of the Federal Law “On the estimation of the impact on original habitat, traditional way of life and traditional nature of Indigenous Peoples of the Russian Federation” 24.

However, it is clear that the key issue today is increasingly becoming a search for a balance between paternalism of the state to preserve traditional cultures, management, crafts of indigenous peoples, on the one hand, and the use of modern technology, the volume of investment in human capital accumulation Northerners, on the other. Addressing quality of life, social activity and mobility is almost impossible without an increase in investment, provide human capital of the northern societies — investments in education, health, recreation, housing, development of creativity, training and youth receiving new professional competencies. Specifically, we are talking about providing local social cohesion, employment, the actual creation of new jobs (the actual quota allocation) in the leading sectors of the modern economy of the entire population of the North, including indigenous people, the development of self-government. Careful state budget investment in quotas of new jobs for indigenous peoples (both large and small in size), old-population should be combined with a whole set of problems to be solved: the application of modern technologies; the development of public-private partnerships; support for small and medium-sized businesses, self-governing communities of a new type; adjustable labor mobility and the creation of necessary conditions for it; with effective regulation of growing external and internal migration.

It is important to note that in the regions of the Russian Arctic has accumulated proven experience in practice the balance between paternalism and the introduction of new technologies of the 21st century. The governor of the Nenets Autonomous District N. Koshin, for example, believes that: “The success of the sustainable development of indigenous peoples of the Arctic — the balance between preserving traditions and the introduction of modern technologies. For example, our project is nomadic schools involves the use of electronic textbooks and classes to study the Nenets in the district schools equipped with multimedia equipment ... As strange as it may sound, the progress helps us to preserve the culture of indigenous peoples, and raising the prestige of the profession Reindeer husbandry needs target economic support from the state. Today we do not subsidize all costs, as part of the cost, depending on the volume produced and sold products. Then we get the result! “25.

Meanwhile, we note that in the Arctic and the North of Russia there is not yet widely available technologies of the sixth technological order, the green economy (Green economics, Ecological economics). The transition from the traditional model of economic growth in the “green economy” — it is a global trend of relying on resource-saving and environmentally friendly production, improving the welfare of the people and reduce the risks to the environment, — emphasizes Doctor of Economic Sciences S.A. Lipina [11, p. 54]. The key problem of the green economy in the Arctic becomes a transition to new technology for the processing of waste, the creation of non-waste production. “If the traditional economy combines labor, technology and resources to produce goods and end-use of waste, the green economy should return the waste back into the production cycle, causing minimal damage to nature” — says renowned economist Pavan Suhdev26. Without going into a detailed understanding of all aspects of the green economy, I will mention a few that have, in my opinion, to reduce conflict in the studied regions of the Arctic and the Russian North.

• 1.    First of all, it is important to understand and accept that conceptually “green” economy is very close to the traditional culture of northerners, their worldview, values and can play a huge role at socioeconomic development of indigenous small numbered peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East.

• 2.    Secondly, the use of modern technologies of energy (e.g., the project of Mezen hydroelectric power), energy efficiency in construction and transport, respect to consumption of water and marketing of these new product, recycling — open a unique opportunity to take leading positions in the development of green economy and take part in moderation of conflicting tensions.

• 3.    Thirdly, in Russian Arctic has several years of a large-scale cleaning of islands and coastal areas and removal of waste. This activity actively involved federal ministries and departments, including Ministry of Defense. The challenge today is to prevent future conflicts related to pollution and industries, especially paying attention to utilities, urban infrastructure of Murmansk, Vorkuta, Norylsk, Severodvinsk, Tiksi and other towns and settlements where 80% of the population of the Russian Arctic are living, as well as the permanent and temporary settlements on Islands of the Arctic Ocean.

• 4.  Fourthly, constant conflict, to my mind, is caused by the costs of ecological projects and transition to

• 5.  Fifthly, a complete ban of the economic activity in an extremely vulnerable position with ecology in

the green economy in the North, including the use of the NSR. Where is it possible to get necessary funds and resources to promote the green economy in the Russian Arctic — the question remains open.

the Arctic region. This question is accompanied with a great number of discussions. It makes sense to introduce temporary restrictions on production of hydrocarbons on continental shelf of the northern seas, and suggest the private businesses, state companies to focus on coastal waters and use the technologies for the extraction of oil with the maximum possible use of land reserves (but not burning them) or use associated gas and find other land reserves. It is high time for the Russian government to order the development or correction of specific environmental standards for the Russian Arctic with the use of the world experience, achievements, modern science and rights .

I am convinced that these and other measures will have a positive impact on reducing the number of conflicts. Very often we are not yet aware that the landscape of the Russian Arctic is a real national treasure of our country, the quality of which largely determines the stability of biospheric processes, economic development and health of the population of Europe and Asia. The news about the Arctic are often lead to optimistic estimates of potentially possible, even undiscov- ered, oil and gas reserves. And often it is forgotten that the Arctic is not only a source of minerals and hydrocarbons but also renewable natural resources, large reserves of fresh water and a clean, cool air (oxygen, carbon dioxide absorption), the world's “kitchen of weather”.

Conclusion

Thus, even a brief analysis of the basic concepts and the current situation of interethnic relations let us conclude that the cumulative palette of knowledge methodologically expands thesaurus of the ethnic and cultural landscape of the Arctic, and not only defines the goal setting and contents of the research, but also sets a sufficiently high theoretical goal for future. It becomes possible to use already accumulated notional wealth in practice, for state and municipal government.

By monitoring of ethnic tensions in the Russian Arctic, one should carefully analyze the content and the prevention of conflict situations arising when evaluating threats to their long-term transformation and the conflicting confrontation. Application of various indicators in the Arctic ethnological monitoring and management does not negate interdisciplinary research, creation of databases and the increase of scientific knowledge.

I want to emphasize that the preservation of the indigenous way of life and paternalism in the 21st century does not bring the desired effect. It is therefore important to search for a balance between “intelligent paternalism” of the state to preserve traditional cultures, management, fisheries, on the one hand, and the introduction of modern technologies, increasing investment in human capital in the Arctic and the North of Russia. Certainly we need to continue work on the legislative level to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. However, a key challenge is to ensure the field of social cohesion, employment, mobility, the creation of new jobs (allocation of quotas) in the leading sectors of the modern economy for Northerners, coupled with increasing investment in human capital (education, health, recreation, housing), development of creativity, training and competencies of the population, especially the youth. There is a need in the transition to a green economy, which is very close to the traditional culture of the indigenous population of the North and their world view.

Obviously, in order to decide all the problems in the North we require significant amounts of investment that is hardly realistic due to the economic crisis and ongoing strategic approach “to the east”.

Social responsibility of the Russian state and business, the rule of law, minimization of corruption (negative examples — governors of the Komi Republic and the Sakhalin region and they are probably only the tip of this iceberg) create the key conditions for the prevention of conflicts, not only in the Russian society, but also in interethnic relations in the Arctic and North of Russia.

Also it was mentioned in the article, there are many other technologies of management of ethnic tensions, positive experience, proven management practices in the regions and municipalities of the Russian Arctic and in other Arctic states. Best management practices of moderating the ethnic tensions and conflicts are certainly requiring the analysis, synthesis and implementation at all levels of government, including federal departmental structure, the subjects of the Russian Federation and municipalities in the North of Russia.

Naturally, ensuring the stability of the internal ethnic space of the Russian Arctic requires the ongoing research and successful testing of state ethnic policy and practice of local governance.