Society and Security Insights

Social Security as a Subject of Scientific Discussion

V. E. Shinkievich — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:58:30 +0700

The article is devoted to the results of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation "Sociology, Philosophy, Law: Current Issues of Modern Research on Ensuring the Security of Society." It presents the general concept of the scientific forum and discusses the main issues that are relevant both at the regional and national levels for ensuring the social security of society. The article emphasizes the importance of conducting comprehensive research to study the social problems of modern Russian society.

Population Health and Healthcare in Russia: Social Security Risks in the Critical Discourse

T. V. Shipunova — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:42:38 +0700

The health of the population is directly related to economic, political and other types of security and well-being of society. To the greatest extent, the health of the population is associated with medical activities, to create conditions for which in each country an extensive health care system is created. The article analyzes some risks of the functioning of the health care system in the context of ensuring social security. Ontological risks reflecting the provision of the health care system, and estimated risks as a result of the perception of medical services by consumers are considered. In the first case, the risks are insufficient funding for the medical sphere, underdeveloped mechanisms for involving citizens in volunteer activities, the costs of digitalization of medical institutions, a personnel crisis and the commercialization of education in medical universities. The second group includes risks that violate the principle of patient-centeredness. Here we consider such characteristics of the process of obtaining medical services as: poor accessibility of medical care, corruption and bribery, insufficient professional level of medical personnel, regulatory response to medical errors, etc. The analysis of objective and subjective risks showed that in Russia social security in the field of public health is only poorly ensured.

Medicine’s Modernization: Embracing Values in a Technological Age

E. A. Smirnova — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:28:30 +0700

In the context of healthcare digitalization and the development and spread of biotechnologies, a value gap is observed between public perception of medical services and the professional assessment of healthcare workers. To conduct a comparative analysis of the value priorities of the population and the expert community in contemporary realities, a qualitative study was organized using focus group interviews and structured interviews. Focus groups revealed a dichotomy between humanitarian-ethical values (dignity, trust, empathy) and clinic-technical values (efficiency, accessibility, safety) when assessing the quality of the modern healthcare system. Youth identify disrespectful communication from healthcare professionals, organizational access barriers such as long queues, difficulties with registration, and time costs as key problems reducing treatment adherence. An ambiguous societal attitude towards the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare was identified, where alongside recognition of its auxiliary functions, possible risks of societal dehumanization and privacy violations during medical care are also noted. Simultaneously, new ethical dilemmas associated with the emergence of advanced medical technologies, such as gene engineering or life-extension technologies, have been established. These require in-depth analysis to prevent social inequality in the very near future and to reduce trust in the healthcare system. The convergence of public and expert opinions emphasizes the need to transition to Value-Oriented Healthcare (VOH), capable of harmonizing technological progress with humanistic principles under conditions of limited resources.

The analysis of information obtained during focus group interviews and structured interviews will allow us to identify discrepancies in the understanding and perception of new bioethical technologies. The analysis of the obtained information will help understand where exactly misunderstandings occur and which bioethical technology issues raise the most questions or rejection from the population. The inclusion of diverse groups (experts and the public) enhances openness in decision-making, which in turn fosters stronger trust between the scientific community, government bodies, and society, creating a sense of citizen engagement. Ignoring any of these aspects inevitably leads to ineffective or even destructive decisions.

Systemic Crises in the Educational Environment of the Republic of Bashkortostan: Problems of Bullying and Psychological Safety

A. V. Stol — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:25:06 +0700

The article is devoted to the study of the problem of bullying and psychological safety in schools of the Republic of Bashkortostan and the city of Ufa. Based on the data of two sociological surveys (2025), covering 3092 parents and 3899 schoolchildren, systemic crises in the educational environment of the region were identified. The results demonstrate an increase in bullying: 17.6% of schoolchildren face bullying from classmates, 7.4% - from teachers (versus 5.6% on average in the Republic of Bashkortostan). Ufa stands out with an increased level of dissatisfaction with the atmosphere in schools: 15.3% of children and 7.2% of parents note an unfavorable psychological climate. In addition to an unfavorable school climate, key issues include staffing shortages (30% of parent complaints), student overload (20% of mentions), outdated teaching methods, and unsanitary conditions (12% of responses), which in turn may be a factor in violence and aggression in schools or a lack of proper prevention or response to complaints. Based on UNESCO recommendations, the following measures are proposed: implementation of anti-bullying programs, reduction of the bureaucratic burden on teachers, modernization of infrastructure and humanization of the educational process. The work contributes to the study of regional characteristics of bullying, emphasizing the need for systemic changes to create a safe educational environment. The prospect of the study will be the inclusion of data from a survey of teachers in the fall of 2025 in the analysis.

The Relationship between Territorial Identity and Schoolchildren's Reproductive Plans

I. N. Vorobеva — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:47:00 +0700

Existing trends in the development of the demographic situation may pose a threat to the country's stability in the economic, social and political spheres and are largely determined by the demographic behavior of the population. To improve demographic policy and develop effective birth control measures, it is crucial to monitor reproductive plans and attitudes and identify the factors that determine them. This article aims to examine the relationship between territorial identity, reproductive plans, and value attitudes toward starting a family among one of the youngest population groups—schoolchildren. The empirical basis for the study was a survey of schoolchildren in Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast, conducted in April 2025. A total of 780 students were interviewed. Migration activity during the implementation of educational strategies, with low levels of return migration, influences reproductive behavior: a decrease in the desired number of children and an increase in the age of parents at the birth of their first child. Building a career, achieving financial stability, and resolving housing problems in the recipient region significantly delays matrimonial plans, and especially plans to have children, for university graduates from other regions. Territorial identity and emotional attachment to one's place of residence act as a factor deterring migration. Territorial identity is correlated with reproductive plans and the age at which they are realized. It was found that family ranks high in the value system of young people, but schoolchildren's reproductive plans are significantly lower than those needed even for simple population replacement. Students with low territorial identity are more likely to abandon plans to have children, are more likely to delay having their first child, and have lower marriage intentions than their peers with high territorial identity. Territorial identity is also interdependent with the level of traditional family values. Young people who are more focused on a happy family life, raising children, and who have a strong emotional attachment to their family of origin are more attached to their place of residence and are more likely to remain in their home region or return after completing their education. The results obtained can serve as a starting point for improving educational work to develop traditional family values and retain young people in the region.

Demographic Potential of North African Countries – Transition or Institutional Diversity?

A. V. Noskova, A. V. Fetsenko — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:40:44 +0700

The article analyzes state of the demographic potential of North African countries and interprets its imbalances from the perspective of demographic transition theories and institutional diversity. Authors aim to compare components of the demographic potential of North African countries in «diachrony and synchrony». Analysis of the demographic potential of North African countries based on data from the UN and the WHO and their comparison in dynamics over the period 1950-2020 revealed ambivalent trends. Amid demographic processes that are similar in direction (population growth, declining birthrates, rising life expectancy), which can be explained from the position of demographic transition theory, new forms of demographic asymmetry are forming in this sub-region. For their analysis, it is important to consider national context of demographic changes. The authors substantiate the need for a synergy of demographic, epidemiological transition theories and institutional approach to population to explain the demographic specifics of North African countries. It is concluded that to maintain high-level demographic potential it is important to preserve cultural traditions and a responsible attitude of government and society toward population.

Security of Inter-Faith Relations in the Mongolian Border Area (According to Expert Assessments)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0700

The Russian-Mongolian border region is an area of active social processes, including interfaith relations, which creates challenges for public stability and security. This article examines the spiritual, social, political, resource, and legal factors that influence the security of interfaith relations. An expert survey revealed that the level of security of interfaith relations in the border aimags is assessed as high, although inferior to national indicators. Furthermore, destructive forms of religious interaction are weakly expressed. The results of a factor analysis revealed a three-component structure of the institutional conditions for the development of interfaith relations, within which administrative and legal mechanisms that ensure the maintenance of religious stability play a dominant role.

Mental Representations of Believers in the Public Consciousness of the Population of the Asian Borderland of Russia

D.A. Omelchenko, S. G. Maximova, O. V. Surtaeva, O. L. Sytykh — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0700

The perception of faith and religion in society demonstrates a complex dynamic shaped by the interplay between traditional institutional frameworks and an increasing individualized spiritual search. The study presented in this article focuses on the mental representations of believers in the public consciousness of populations in the Asian border regions of Russia—Altai Krai and the Republic of Altai. Psychosemantic methods of multiple identification were employed to analyze images of various religious roles, based on continuum between believers and non-believers, and peculiarities of confessional situation in two regions. The sample consisted of 144 respondents with diverse ethnic and confessional identities. Factor analysis and multidimensional variance analysis were applied to analyze these images and uncover latent evaluative structures. The research revealed a complex and multilayered structure of religious images, reflecting the profound mutual influence of regional cultural characteristics and social meaning constructs. The identified factors represent three primary dimensions of spirituality: personal morality, interconfessional interaction, and religious nationalism, each characterized by a distinct set of semantic attributes and social significances. Orthodoxy and Buddhism are predominantly perceived positively, whereas images of Muslims and non-believers exhibit greater ambiguity and internal contradictions. The findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to studying religious identity in diverse socio-cultural contexts. Additionally, the study highlights the ongoing negotiation of religious identities amid regional diversities and societal transformations.

Slavic-Turkic Interaction: Reflection of Historical Memory in Internet Media

B. B. Maksutova, S. B. Ergeshova, G. D. Dzhunushalieva, A. V. Kovaleva — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0700

The article examines the features of preserving and functioning of historical memory about the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) in Internet media – the Sputnik Telegram channel of three countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The relevance of the study is largely due to changes in the collective historical memory in the post-Soviet space and the political processes of nation-building in these republics, whose leadership interprets important historical events, including the Great Patriotic War, differently. From distancing from the Great Patriotic War (Uzbekistan) to recognizing it as part of national history (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan). The purpose of this article is to identify the features of transmitting historical memory about the Great Patriotic War in the Telegram channel Sputnik Kyrgyzstan, Sputnik Kazakhstan and Sputnik Uzbekistan. The use of content analysis, quantitative and comparative analysis makes it possible to identify images of the common memory of the Great Patriotic War, regional contribution, as well as the context of the current actualization of historical memory. According to the results of the study, as of September 1, 2025, 96,027 subscribers were registered in the Sputnik Kyrgyzstan Telegram channel, 47,212 in Kazakhstan, and 20,745 in Uzbekistan. It is noted that publications about the Great Patriotic War in the Sputnik Telegram channel are distinguished by genre diversity: news feeds, reports, interviews, official speeches and statements, historical notes, as well as announcements of state events, photo and video materials, infographics are used; large articles and publications are rarely posted. The uniqueness of the study lies in the fact that the analysis of the number and content of publications in the Telegram channel Sputnik Kyrgyzstan, Sputnik Kazakhstan and Sputnik Uzbekistan revealed national thematic specifics: Kyrgyz publications paid special attention to the spiritual dimension of memory; Kazakh publications noted the scale of the industrial and military contribution of Kazakhstan; Uzbekistan – the patriotic tone of publications about the Great Patriotic War.

On the issue of the typology of socially vulnerable categories of citizens for the purposes of state support

Svetlana V. Solovyeva — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0700

State support for socially vulnerable citizens is essential for the social and political stability of the state and the country's national security. An analysis of sources reveals that the concept of socially vulnerable citizens is not defined in Russian legislation. Uniform criteria for classifying citizens as socially vulnerable are not provided, and a list of such individuals has not been established. Research approaches to defining this category of individuals vary. The diversity of concepts and approaches to identifying socially vulnerable individuals creates the problem of standardizing them for legislative and law enforcement practice and the implementation of social policy. Researchers unanimously emphasize the need not only for a theoretical justification of these issues but also for a normative legal framework for the concept and criteria of social vulnerability and a list of socially vulnerable individuals. Therefore, the objective of this study is to clarify the conceptual content of the term "socially vulnerable individuals," define criteria for social vulnerability, and develop a typology of socially vulnerable individuals. The results of the analysis of several publications by Russian researchers and regulatory legal acts served as the basis for substantiating the research approach to defining the concept of socially vulnerable individuals, the criteria for classifying them as such, and a typology of socially vulnerable individuals. The conclusion is drawn that the justified consolidation in legislation of the concept and categories of socially vulnerable citizens can contribute to the renewal of state social policy and increase the effectiveness of state support measures.