The Role of Russians in the North Caucasus in the Views of the Region's Multi-Ethnic Youth

Relevance. Considerable outflow of the Russian population from the region, associated with the dramatic events of the 1990s, the subsequent low rates of socio-economic development and negative demographic dynamics led to a decrease in the role of Russians in the North Caucasus. This factor actualizes the scientific significance the issues of changing the ethno-status positions of the Russian population in the assessments of modern multi-ethnic youth.
The purpose is to determine the multi-ethnic young peoples' perceptions of the North Caucasus about the role of Russians in the region in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods.
Objectives are to identify the factors of influence of Russians on the economy, social sphere and culture of the North Caucasus in the Soviet period, the change in the role of Russians in the North Caucasus in the post-Soviet reality, to determine the reasons for the outflow of Russians from the North Caucasus and the assessment of these processes by the North Caucasus youth.
Methodology. In the process of working on the research, the main conceptual and theoretical approaches to the problem of social memory were used. The empirical basis is a 2022 sociological study of the young people' perceptions from leading universities in the North Caucasus about the role and place of Russians in the North Caucasus in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods of history.
Results. The study revealed that the vast majority of respondents, regardless of nationality and religion, positively assess the contribution of the Russian population to the development of the economy, social sphere and culture of the regions of the North Caucasus. According to the respondents, the main reasons for the outflow of Russians in the post-Soviet period are changes in the socio-political life of the region, the lack of prospects for development and self-realization, low living standards and high unemployment, clannishness and corruption.
Conclusion. The Soviet period of the North Caucasus in the young peoples' perceptions was determined by the significant role of the Russian population in the development of the region. The outflow of Russians from the regions of the North Caucasus continues to be an urgent problem and reduces the possibility of further socio-economic development. A decrease in the outflow of the Russian population and a decrease in the migration attitudes of young people is possible as part of the successful modernization of the economy, social sphere and cultural life.

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