National Mixed Marriages as a Variation of Ethnocultural Identity

Authors of this article using interdisciplinary approach analyze national mixed marriages and marriage aims of modern Omsk residents of various nationalities; reveal the factors influencing them . This article is based on the field materials collected in historical, ethnographic and ethnosociologic researches of 2000-2016 and also on the statistical and demographic data. The modern period of time can be characterized as ethnocultural paradox: on the one hand there are processes of globalization, establishment and strengthening the crosscultural communications; on the other hand - a catalyzing of ethnocultural identity, aspiration to prove the ethnic and cultural identity. National mixed marriages are the most striking example of manifestation of a behavioural component. Wilingness or unavailability of society to accept the fact of a possibility of interethnic marriage is a certain marker of ethnocultural identity. This perspective now has acquired special relevance due to the need of formation of new approach to development of the cultural sphere and creation of the uniform spiritual space necessary for strengthening of all-civil Russian identity. National mixed marriages can be considered as a peculiar indicator of the interethnic relations, and also as the important channel of an exchange of ethnocultural information and as the environment of formation of new ethnocultural traditions. In the national mixed families there is a special microenvironment creating favorable conditions for interethnic communication and formation of the corresponding positive aims. In the article the main models of formation of ethnic consciousness and ethnocultural characteristics in the national mixed families are given. The territory of Omsk belongs to zones of active interethnic contacts. In Omsk live representatives of more than 120 nations. In present time about 20% of all registered marriages are interethnic. National mixed marriages experience strong influence from a number of economic, demographic, social and ethnocultural factors and have significant effect on them. Now the ethnic origin is not a determinative factor in a choice of the marriage partner. Respectively, national self-identification has no cardinal influence on a behavioural component of ethnocultural identity. At the same time, since the end of the 1990th the increasing influence of religious aspect of identity has being observed.

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