Regional Mass Consciousness in the Conditions of Revolutionary Russia at the Beginning of the 20th Century (Based on the Materials of the North Caucasus)

Abstract

Aim. To identify the evolution of mass consciousness among different strata of the multi-ethnic space of the North Caucasus in the context of the development of the revolutionary process in Russia at the beginning of the 20^th century.

Procedure and methods. The use of the system-functional analysis method in the analysis of archival documents and historical literature helped to determine the place and role of the North Caucasus in the system of Russian socio-political processes. The use of the comparative method allowed us to identify the uniqueness of the regional perception of the era of revolutions and to understand the system of cause-and-effect relationships of the local population's participation in the revolution.

Results. The analysis of the sources used led to the conclusion that, despite the pre-industrial level of development of the peoples of the North Caucasus, they understood the importance of social and interethnic compromise due to the geographical and sociocultural characteristics of the region. This explains the democratic nature of the demands of both the elite and the working-class population. Therefore, the majority of the region's population supported the February Revolution.

Research implications. The conclusion about the continuity of the historical destinies of Russia and the North Caucasus was confirmed and substantiated, despite the periodic discreteness of the relationship. The experience of interaction and mutual influence of the center and the region is important for identifying factors that contribute to the growth of integration opportunities for the development of the Russian community in a changing world order.