INTERETHNIC RELATIONS IN THE REPUBLICS OF MARI EL, MORDOVIA AND UDMURTIA IN THE ASSESSMENTS OF EXPERTS

The article presents some results of an expert survey conducted in 2021 in the framework of a scientific research project entitled "The Ethnic Factor in the Socio-Political Life of Russia's Regions: from Ethno-political Mobilization to Civic Integration (Republics of Bashkortostan, Mari El, Mordovia, Udmurtia and Chuvashia)". The materials received enabled to analyse the opinions of experts - specialists in the field of national and youth policy regarding the role and significance of the ethnic factor in contemporary socio-political processes, assessments of the interethnic situation and proposed measures for strengthening ethno-political stability. The relevance of the study during this period was related to two important national campaigns - elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation and the All-Russian Population Census. To some extent, the coronavirus pandemic and related socio-economic crises may have affected the state of ethno-confessional relations. In addition, contemporary Russia is influenced by a number of unfavourable external factors that can affect the situation in the regions and generate tensions in the system of ethno-political system of ethno-political relations. An analysis based on expert opinion shows that the Finno-Ugric republics in the Volga federal district present a model of longstanding stability in interethnic relations and relative non-conflict, even though they experience the same difficulties as other Russian regions, often with greater economic potential and higher levels of social development. Therefore, the model of conflict-free, sustainable social development in the Finno-Ugric republics requires further systemic analysis. On the whole, the results obtained indicate the current dominance of regional socio-economic problems over inter-ethnic contradictions.