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Межкультурные отношения в Республике Северная Осетия-Алания
This article examines intercultural relations in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (RNO-A). The research is based on the theory of acculturation of J. Berry and uses the hypotheses and measures developed in the Mutual Intercultural Relations in Plural Societies project. The RNO-A is the most favorable place for the Russians living in the North Caucasus because attitudes toward the Russian minority in the RNO-A are not discriminatory. In this study we tested the multiculturalism hypothesis, the integration hypothesis, the contact hypothesis and hypothesis of threat/discrimination. The sample included members of the ethnic majority — Ossetians (N = 340), and members of the ethnic minority — Russians (N = 344). Data processing was carried out using structural equation modeling (SEM) separately for the ethnic minority and for the ethnic majority, and the models were compared with each other. The results show that perceived security among Russians (the ethnic minority) as well as among Ossetians (the ethnic majority) promoted support for a multicultural ideology, tolerance, and mutual integration. The number and frequency of friendly intercultural contacts had a positive and significant impact on a preference for integration among both Ossetians and Russians. An integration strategy and the expectation of integration promoted self-esteem in both groups. In addition, the high level of perceived threat among Ossetians and perceived discrimination among Russians predicted their preference for assimilation. In general, the results of the study confirmed the multiculturalism hypothesis, the integration hypothesis and the contact hypothesis.