Constitutional Space: Multiculturalism and its “Indigenous Dimension"

INTRODUCTION. This article proposes a possible direction of state ethnopolicy in Russia – constitutional multiculturalism, which is formed in the process of functioning and development of national law, especially in relation to indigenous peoples who are essential part of the Russian legal system. The domain of ethnic relations is subject to constitutional changes precisely because the rights of indigenous peoples are not a static legal phenomenon, but a constitutional and legal reality that tends to change along with the developing world. In 2020, Article 69 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation was supplemented with new constitutional purposes (protection of cultural identity, linguistic and cultural diversity in the context of preserving the Russian cultural identity), and therefore it becomes relevant and important to develop them further in legal terms, as well as to justify them with state ideology and theoretical aspects. In particular, multiculturalism is considered as the latest ideology for the development of a multicultural society, which at its core contains the idea of the harmonious coexistence of cultural and ethnic groups whose traditions, practices, and values are recognized by the state.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The author analyzes the works of Western and Russian scientists engaged in the problems of constitutionalism, the constitutions of Russia and other states using the comparative legal method. The functional comparison employed in the study allows to highlight similarities and differences not in the essence and structure of the legal norms of constitutions and regulatory legal acts, but in the functions which they perform, i.e. to understand the effect of the regulation of ethnic relations. The author also uses a problematic comparison, trying to identify and compare the theoretical foundations and legal instruments that exist in different jurisdictions. In this way, the most successful concepts have been formulated and proposed for the national legislation and law enforcement systems.

RESEARECH RESULTS. The author states that the most effective ethnic policy in multi-ethnic countries is constitutional multiculturalism, which, however, lacks theoretical justification in Russian legal reality. Close attention in this regard is paid to the "indigenous dimension" of constitutional multiculturalism, which the author considers as special legal aspects in relation to indigenous peoples, unfolding «the cultural identity, ethnic identification, values and knowledge of unique ethnic communities, necessarily enshrined in the basic law of the state.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. Indigenous aspects of constitutional multiculturalism ought to be conceptualized, i.e. to develop new theories and models, systematize legal, structural, economic and other instruments, with the aim of embodying the values and needs of ethnic groups characterized by indigenism in real legal structures, which will allow indigenous peoples to be granted special rights, including the opportunity to choose a special path of development. If in the policy of constitutional multiculturalism, a special role is given to indigenous peoples, capable, with due constitutional and legal support, of maintaining significant forms of cultural identity, ethnic diversity and traditions, then this will meet the requirements of the developing world and modern Russian constitutional legal reality.

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