“National question” in soviet Russia and the analysis of soviet ethnic policy heritage in modern social science

Introduction. research objective consists in revealing of potential and delimitation of applicability of experience of the Soviet ethnic policy in Post-Soviet Russia in a context of a modern civil nation-building policy. Methods. the basic theoretical models of the Soviet ethnic policy in Russia in aspect of its continuity with pre-revolutionary and Post-Soviet are analyzed, on the basis of comparative analysis method the similarities and distinctions of these models in theoretical prospect of research of empires revealed. Results. the characteristic of typological features and the basic problems of a modern Russian ethnic policy is given, its basic tendencies and problems in comparative-historical prospect come to light, it is underlined attempts of incorporation peculiar to all three periods ethnic национализмов under the slogan of a multinationality of the state at mutual ignoring of an imperial opportunistic policy of co-optation of elite as a condition of their loyalty, on the one hand, and ethnic nationalism with self-sufficiency inherent in it - on the other hand, as on a source of these contradictions. Discussion and conclusions. the conclusion about necessity in the long term civil nation-building reorientation of political and legal priorities from a paternalism in relation to communities on protection of the rights of citizens and support of their legal equality along with equality of possibilities as a preliminary condition of realization of the collective rights becomes.