Digitalization of Ethnopolitical Processes in the Russian Federation: The Problem Statement

The article examines various aspects of the evolution of ethnopolitical processes in Russia, influenced by technological transformation and its socio-political consequences. The purpose of this article is to apply the concept of digitalization to ethnopolitical processes as a form of political process. The theoretical and methodological framework of the paper is an analysis of scientific discourse in the digitalization field, as well as a topological approach that allowed placing ethnopolitical processes in digital space. After reviewing the main theoretical approaches to studying the digitalization of politics, the author outlines its key manifestations in interethnic relations, identifying the risks and opportunities. It is concluded that the penetration of new technologies into issues of identity of individual and group social actors is a crucial factor in the digitalization of ethnopolitical processes. It is shown that these phenomena lead to both a potential increase in the political actors’ number and an expansion of available tools for political activism. Based on an analysis of the State National Policy Strategy until 2036 the author concludes that internet technologies are increasingly playing a significant role in its structure. The conclusion outlines potential areas for further research.

1. Achkasova V. A., Trokhinova O. I. Networking of ethnic mobilization: Exploring the role of appeals in interethnic conflicts // Tomsk State University Journal [Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta]. 2018. N 431. P. 5–11. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.17223/15617793/431/1. EDN UYPPBX

2. Belorussova S., Danilova E., Sysoeva M. Hashtages and ethnicity // Etnografia. 2020. N 3 (9). P. 33–61. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31250/2618-8600-2020-3(9)-33-61. EDN AZDRKY

3. Beliakov N. S., Kurgacheva K. D. Internet technologies in the conditions of modern political process // Moscow State University Bulletin. Series 18. Sociology and Political Science [Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 18. Sotsiologiya i politologiya]. 2019. N 25 (1). P. 162–174. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.24290/1029-3736-2019-25-1-162-174. EDN ZBRUON

4. Vasiliyev M. S., Ignatovskiy Ya. R. Digitalization of modern public policy: Specificity and social risks // Izvestiya Tula State University [Izvestiya Tul’skogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Gumanitarnye nauki]. 2021. N 1. P. 15–26. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.24412/2071-6141-2021-1-15-26. EDN CKIJRU

5. Volodenkov S. V. The Contemporary Political Processes Transformation in the Context of Society Digitalization: Key Scenarios // Outlines of Global Transformations: Politics, Economics, Law [Kontury global’nykh transformatsii: politika, ehkonomika, pravo]. 2020. Vol. 13, N 2. P. 6–25. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.23932/2542-0240-2020-13-2-1. EDN MNPUER

6. Volodenkov S. V., Fedorchenko S. N. Traditional Political Institutions in the Context of Digitalization: Risks and Prospects of Transformation // Discourse-P [Diskurs-Pi]. 2022. Vol. 19, N 1. P. 84–103. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.17506/18179568_2022_19_1_84. EDN OTWGJY

7. Volodenkov S. V., Fedorchenko S. N., Artamonova J. D. Sociotechnical reality of the digital space of contemporary politics: Structure and features // Political Expertise: POLITEX [Politicheskaya ehkspertiza]. 2022. Vol. 18, N 3. P. 230–253. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.21638/spbu23.2022.301. EDN TOJZVD

8. Volokitina N. A. The ethnic culture and the representation of ethnic identity through the Internet // Human. Culture. Education [Chelovek. Kul’tura. Obrazovanie]. 2019. N 3 (33). P. 39–45. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.34130/2223-1277-2019-3-39-45. EDN IBFGJC

9. Gadzhiev Kh. A. Intercultural Dialogue in the Digital Space as a Factor of Socio-political Stability // Sociopolitical Sciences [Sotsial’no-politicheskie nauki]. 2023. Vol. 13, N 4. P. 49–54. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.33693/2223-0092-2023-13-4-49-54. EDN KSGFFU

10. Golovnev A. V., Belorussova S. Yu., Kisser T. S. Virtual Ethnicity and Cyberethnography. SaintPetersburg : MAE RAN, 2021. 280 p. (In Russ).

11. Danilova N. M. Application of digital technologies to preserve the languages and cultures of the ethnic groups of Russia: Opportunities and risks // Vlast’. 2025. N 6. P. 131–139. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.24412/2071-5358-2025-6-131-139. EDN VJTPZC

12. Denisov A. E. Hashtags, narratives and banal nationalism (a case study of the Kryashens’ movement) // Political science [Politicheskaya nauka]. 2021. N 3. P. 161–182. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31249/poln/2021.03.07. EDN NTOWYJ

13. Konkov A. E. Digital politics vs political digitalization. // Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. International Relations [Vestnik Sankt-Peterburgskogo universiteta. Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya]. 2020. Vol. 13, Iss. 1. P. 47–68. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.21638/spbu06.2020.104. EDN DOKOFB

14. Kurinskikh P. A. Cyberethnography and ethnic identity: a case study of the Shapsugs of the Western Caucasus // History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus [Istoriya, arkheologiya i etnografiya Kavkaza]. 2025. Vol. 21, N 3. P. 588–599. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.32653/CH213588-599. EDN BPOPNY

15. Martyanov D. S., Martyanova N. A. Manageability of virtual communities: comparative analysis of politicized VKontakte groups // Journal of Political Research [Zhurnal politicheskikh issledovanii]. 2019. Vol. 13, N. 3. P. 79–93. (In Russ.). EDN JYMBDA

16. Makhmutov Z. А. Tatar Virtual Communities: Identity Representation, Functions and Conflict Risks // Herald of Anthropology [Vestnik Antropologii]. 2025. N 2. P. 207–222. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2025-2/207-222. EDN XXDYEO

17. Pain E. A. “White”, “Red” and “Green”: The Ideological Diversity of Modern Russian Conservatism (a content analysis of Telegram channels) // Sociological Studies [Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya]. 2025. N 3. P. 40–53. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S0132162525030042. EDN KMZFMS

18. Penner R. V. Digital identity: Theory and methodology // Lomonosov Philosophy Journal [Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 7. Filosofiya]. 2024. Vol. 48, N 2. P. 98–113. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.55959/MSU0201-7385-7-2024-2-98-113. EDN CWOHJH

19. Stukal D. K., Shilina A. N., Akhremenko A. S. Social media as an alter ego of reality: What does affective political polarization teach us? // RUDN Journal of Political Science [Vestnik RUDN. Seriya: Politologiya]. 2025. Vol. 27, N 3. P. 430–443. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.22363/23131438-2025-27-3-430-443. EDN JIGGWO

20. Sukharev M. V. The collective subject in the digital age // Social Sciences and Contemporary World [Obshchestvennye nauki i sovremennost’]. 2024. N 6. P. 41–56. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S0869049924060035. EDN JBZKGZ

21. Khabibullina Z. R. Cyberethnography and New Methods for Studying Islamic Communities // Ural Historical Journal [Ural’skii istoricheskii vestnik]. 2025. N 4 (89). P. 35–44. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.30759/1728-9718-2025-4(89)-35-44

22. Diamandaki K. Virtual ethnicity and digital diasporas: Identity construction in cyberspace // Global Media Journal. 2003. Vol. 2, Iss. 2. P. 3–14.

23. Goikoetxea J., Cancela E., Jiménez A. Digital Nationalism and Global Capitalism: The Cases of Spain and Catalonia // Ethnopolitics. 2025. Vol. 24, N 1. P. 45–53. DOI: 10.1080/17449057.2023.2275881

24. Gowricharn R., Elahi J. Digital institutions: the case of ethnic websites in the Netherlands // Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power. 2020. Vol. 27, Iss. 4. P. 442–461. DOI: 10.1080/1070289X.2018.1519239

25. Koltsova O. et al. Detecting ethnicity-targeted hate speech in Russian social media texts // Information Processing and Management. 2021. Vol. 58, N 6. Article 102674. DOI: 10.1016/j.ipm.2021.102674. EDN OORNMY

26. Myagkov M. et al. A Comparative analysis of right-wing radical and Islamist communities strategies for survival in social networks (evidence from the Russian social network VKontakte) // Media, War & Conflicts. 2019. N 1. P. 425–447. DOI: 10.1177/1750635219846028

27. Nakamura L. Cybertypes: Race, Ethnicity, and Identity on the Internet. N. Y. : Routledge, 2002.

28. Saunders R. A. Ethnopolitics in Cyberspace: The Internet, Minority Nationalism, and the Web of Identity. Lexington Books, 2011.

29. Yusupova G., Rutland P. Introduction: Transformation of nationalism and diaspora in the digital age // Nations and Nationalism. 2021. Vol. 27, Iss. 2. P. 325–330. DOI: 10.1111/nana.12683.