No 8 (2025)
ARTICLES
Strategies for the Social Adaptation of International Students (A Case Study of Altai State University)
Abstract
The social adaptation of international students is an important aspect of the sustainable development of international education, influencing academic performance, intercultural relations, and overall quality of student life. This study is dedicated to examining the strategies of social adaptation of international students at Altai State University. The focus is on analyzing how students from near and far abroad construct their behavior in the host society while maintaining their cultural identity or striving for integration. Special attention is given to the influence of cultural attachment, intercultural interaction, and socio-economic conditions on the choice of adaptation strategy. At the theoretical level, the work is based on J. Berry's concept of adaptation strategies (integration, assimilation, separation, marginalization), as well as sociological approaches to analyzing adaptation processes. The research employed a questionnaire survey (n=210, quota sample) and focus groups (n=6) with international students at Altai State University. The results showed that among international students, integration and assimilation strategies dominate, with students from far abroad more often oriented toward embedding themselves in the host socio-cultural environment, while representatives from near abroad tend to preserve cultural practices and maintain close ties with their compatriots. Socio-economic difficulties, including issues related to housing, food, and information access, remain significant barriers to successful adaptation, even for motivated students. Based on the analysis, practical recommendations were formulated to improve adaptation conditions, including language support, mentorship, cultural events, and informational assistance. The study underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to supporting international students as a factor in enhancing their social and academic success and resilience.
Sociodynamics. 2025;(8):1-20
1-20
The institutional role of diasporas in the migration system: the case of the Armenian diaspora in the USA and the Russian Federation
Abstract
The subject of the study is the institutional role of the Armenian diaspora in the migration system, exemplified by its functioning in the USA and Russia. The aim of the work is to identify and compare the institutional mechanisms of the Armenian diaspora's influence on migration systems and the socio-political environment within the context of two receiving societies. The object of the study is represented by Armenian diaspora communities, their organizational structures (such as the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian Assembly of America, and the Union of Armenians of Russia), and their strategies for interaction with receiving states. The research focuses on analyzing the direct and indirect methods of diaspora influence, including lobbying, cultural impact, and social support for migrants, emphasizing the historical prerequisites for community formation, internal consolidation, and adaptation to the national context of the receiving countries. The research employs a comparative-analytical method within the framework of an institutional approach, supplemented by elements of historical-sociological analysis and synthesis of secondary sources. It is established that the Armenian diaspora in the USA demonstrates a high degree of institutionalization due to favorable conditions for the functioning of ethnic lobbies. The Armenian diaspora effectively influences migration legislation and the foreign policy agenda of the USA. In Russia, despite the larger size of the diaspora, its influence is primarily realized through indirect mechanisms: the Union of Armenians of Russia focuses on preserving ethnic identity and providing social support to migrants, but limited opportunities for official lobbying at the federal level hinder the transformation of the community into a full-fledged political actor. The novelty of the research lies in identifying three key conditions for the transformation of the diaspora into a subject of migration policy: the presence of legitimate institutional lobbying channels, the degree of internal community consolidation, and the historical context of diaspora formation. The results have practical value for the development of migration policy: states should create legitimate institutional channels for diasporas, support their internal consolidation, and take into account the historical context of community formation for effective management of migration processes and transnational relations.
Sociodynamics. 2025;(8):21-35
21-35
Mechanisms of social adaptation of graduates of orphanage assistance centers (based on a sociological study in Barnaul, Altai Territory).
Abstract
The article discusses the main mechanisms of social adaptation of graduates of orphaned children's care centers. The key features of the mechanisms of social adaptation of graduates of orphaned children's care centers are identified, and the application of these mechanisms in the practical life of such graduates is also considered. The data obtained during the sociological research allowed us to characterize the objective and subjective components of the mechanisms of social adaptation of graduates of orphaned care centers. The methodology of this work was based on a combination of structural functionalism and a systematic approach. The study of the mechanisms of social adaptation of graduates of orphaned children's care centers was based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The quantitative method is represented by a mass survey in the form of a questionnaire (N=118), and the qualitative method is represented by an expert survey in the form of an in-depth interview (N=13). The article presents the results of the author's sociological research, which was conducted in the period from 2023 to 2025. The empirical data obtained became the basis for characterizing the mechanisms of social adaptation of graduates of orphaned children's care centers in a provincial city. In addition, the data obtained make it possible to assess the problems and difficulties faced by graduates of orphaned children's care centers, which can become the basis for the development and refinement of appropriate socially oriented programs. The author came to the conclusion that there are 4 main mechanisms of social adaptation of graduates of orphaned children's care centers: financial adaptation, legal adaptation, household adaptation and socio-psychological adaptation. Each mechanism includes a number of processes and elements necessary for the full-fledged social adaptation of a graduate of the center for assistance for children in society. Further research in this area will allow for a deeper study of the existing mechanisms of social adaptation, to identify those factors, the adjustment of which will make the adaptation process more effective. The author emphasizes the need to create a unified adaptation system for graduates of assistance centers, which in the future will make it possible to effectively use existing social, economic and administrative resources.
Sociodynamics. 2025;(8):36-54
36-54
Family consciousness of student youth: a factor in strengthening national security of Russia
Abstract
The subject of the study is the socio-management technologies of information protection of the family consciousness of student youth, examined in the context of contemporary challenges of strategic uncertainty. The focus of the analysis is on the mechanisms, methods, and tools that ensure the formation, maintenance, and strengthening of positive value orientations regarding family among students as a specific socio-demographic group. The research covers the legal, sociological, and managerial aspects of the development and application of such technologies, as well as their role in counteracting destructive informational influences that can undermine the stability of the family institution. Special attention is paid to identifying factors that affect the youth's susceptibility to informational messages and determining the conditions under which information protection becomes an effective tool of state, educational, and cultural policy aimed at strengthening family values. The study employs systemic and interdisciplinary approaches, including the analysis of regulatory documents, sociological surveys, expert interviews, and comparative analysis, which allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of information protection technologies of the family consciousness of student youth. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the clarification and expansion of theoretical concepts regarding the socio-management technologies of information protection of family consciousness of student youth in the face of modern informational challenges. The work systematizes existing approaches to understanding the mechanisms of forming and maintaining stable value orientations regarding family, as well as identifies key factors influencing the effectiveness of their application in educational and sociocultural settings. The results obtained confirm that targeted informational work with student youth can reduce the impact of destructive media influences and strengthen positive attitudes toward family. The conclusions of the study can be used in the practice of educational institutions, government bodies, and public organizations for the development and improvement of programs aimed at preserving and enhancing family values among youth.
Sociodynamics. 2025;(8):55-78
55-78
The Problem of Preserving Traditional Bashkir Culture in Contemporary Republic of Bashkortostan: A Content Analysis
Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of the problem of preserving traditional Bashkir culture in the modern society of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Under the conditions of globalization and active social transformations, the need arises to analyze which elements of the national cultural heritage retain their significance and how they are transmitted in public discourse. The focus is on such key categories as language, family traditions, spirituality, ethnic identity, and genealogical memory. The object of the research includes texts of various types: scholarly publications, official documents and speeches, mass media materials, as well as project initiatives. The examination of how these elements are represented makes it possible to identify imbalances in their reflection and to understand which values are being actualized and which are gradually losing visibility in the public sphere of the region. The study applies the method of quantitative content analysis, which allows for the identification of frequency characteristics of key concepts across different types of texts: academic publications, official speeches, mass media materials, and project documents. This approach ensures the objectivity of the results and comparability of the data. The findings demonstrate that in public discourse the themes of language and traditions are most actively represented, indicating their priority in the formation of cultural identity. At the same time, notions related to genealogical memory, spirituality, and ethnic identity appear to be significantly less visible. Comparative analysis across different types of sources revealed an unbalanced representation of various aspects of traditional culture, which indicates the insufficient comprehensiveness of current cultural policy and educational practices. The scientific novelty of the work lies in a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the representation of concepts, which makes it possible to identify structural distortions and to propose directions for their correction. Conclusions are drawn on the necessity of expanding educational and cultural initiatives that incorporate elements of shézhere (genealogical tradition), spirituality, and ethnic memory into the system of public communication.
Sociodynamics. 2025;(8):79-92
79-92