Specific features of intercultural communication in the context of ethnic tensions

The article relies on the empirical basis of several studies by the author, which were aimed at studying various aspects of interethnic interaction in Krasnodar Krai. Communication of different social groups in the region due to the relatively high level of ethnic mosaicism of the population is a relevant object of study. It is concluded that intercultural communication in conditions of ethnic tension is the most important factor of interethnic interaction intensification. The quality of communication largely determines whether a conflict turns into hostile action, including the use of violence. At each new stage of escalation, deformation of interaction elements increases. The content of communication varies. The messages of the parties to the conflict become more and more emotional, and their level of rationality decreases. The information exchange of the parties to the conflict is rapidly becoming politicized. Under conditions of collective conflict, participating groups lose the ability to effectively control the content and form of messages.