CONGRESSES OF PEOPLES AS A FORM OF MANIFESTATION OF NATIONAL SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS AND SELF-DETERMINATION IN THE REPUBLICS OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS DURING PERESTROIKA

Zhuchenko Victoria Sergeevna

This article studies the Congress of nations as one of the formats and instruments of national self-determination in the North Caucasus during the period of perestroika. The purpose of this study is to determine the significance of congresses of peoples as a format in solving national problems, as well as to identify the attitude of various institutions of government and society towards them. The example of various congresses of nations demonstrates the range of issues that they considered, as well as the degree of their influence on the socio-political situation in the region. Research methods included analysis of congress materials, personal documents of their participants, content analysis of periodicals of the perestroika period. In conclusion, conclusions are drawn about the relevance of this format, its problematic grounds and advantages. The author concludes that despite the lack of tangible results from the decisions of the congresses in the practical field, the format itself was perceived (and is perceived now) as one of the most fair methods of solving socio-political and national problems. Moreover, the format can be called universal also due to the fact that it turns out to be in demand and relevant for a long time and in the most diverse periods of history: civil war, perestroika, the modern stage of history.

Keywords:nationality, ethnicity, national congress, national identity, national policy, Perestroika, North Caucasus.