Modern practices of kunachestvo and good neighborliness in the South of Russia

Modern practices of establishing good neighborly relations between the people of the South of Russia, implemented through festival projects and various social and cultural events organized by leaders of public organizations and representatives of government structures, are revealed. It is shown how the festival "Peace to the Caucasus", which started in 1996, influenced the establishment of a peaceful dialogue between representatives of Ingushetia and Ossetia, between artists of professional groups from all over the South of Russia; psychologically set people up for general civil unity and a positive attitude towards each other. The expansion of the content of the Festival, the inclusion of exhibitions of arts and crafts and demonstrations "Podvoriy" also allowed to expand the composition of festival participants, to include amateur groups and soloists in its programs. The issues of choosing the locations of festivals, their financing, established traditions and the gradual expansion of the geography of participants are discussed. At the same time, the presence of certain problems associated with the lack of new "life-giving forces" aimed at achieving the general goal of establishing peace and harmony in the South of Russia is emphasized. Other practices of kunakry between creative teams and their leaders (Viktor Zakharchenko and Aslan Nekhay) are also shown, as well as examples of promoting initiatives aimed at highlighting the facts of good neighborliness and cooperation. These include the Kunaki documentary film festival and the Kunachestvo project, implemented by the Ministry for Cooperation with Civil Society Institutions and Ethnic Affairs of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The study used a content analysis of information from open sources and expert interviews on the spectrum of reflection and application in the modern culture of the North Caucasus and the South of Russia of the creative potential of the practices of kunakry and good neighborliness

Kunachestvo, Kunaks, Adyghes, Cossacks, Circassians, good neighborliness, cultural practices, festival, South of Russia, North Caucasus