By Vestnik Kavkaza
In recent times the Moscow authorities have begun to work actively on deepening inter-ethnic dialogue, and preventing xenophobia and ethnic conflicts. Another step in this direction was the second International Scientific Practical Conference “Unity in Differences”, which was organized by the Department of Interregional Cooperation, Ethnic Policy and Contacts with Religious Organizations. Scientists, journalists, social and political activists participated in the conference and discussed ways of achieving inter-ethnic consent and the role of civil society in the process.
Ismail Agakishiyev, reader in the history of post-Soviet countries at the History Department of MSU, pointed out the important role of the expert community and the mass media in the implementation of ethnic policy. He urged the community to rely on the great experience of the peaceful life of peoples in the former Russian Empire and the USSR: “In recent times the word “tolerance” has become very popular; and today’s conference has proved that Russia and the post-Soviet space which is open for Russia have great experience in the sphere of inter-ethnic issues, and the word “tolerance” doesn’t meet the reality which has been formed over 200 years. During these years we have gained respect for each other. Due to the state-forming Russian nation and working in the cultural sphere, a certain mentality of the peoples who live in Russia was formed. The mentality was formed by a synthesis of the cultures of the peoples.”
Maxim Shevchenko, a member of the Council for Inter-Ethnic relations under the Russian President, stressed the need for a positive agenda, the way the media presents the topic of inter-ethnic relations: “Of course the audience perceives the ethnic-cultural agenda through the description of conflicts and their interpretation in the public conscience. Many conflicts have been created artificially in recent years and had political strategic foundations. Can a positive ethnic cultural agenda be successful? In journalism a positive story is the most difficult. One cannot simply praise the authorities or describe how good people’s life is. It would be interesting only to the authorities who are praised and the journalist who will be praised by the authorities. For the rest of the audience it will not be interesting. So a positive story in modern journalism should be based on some personal story: the story of a person, of his relations with the environment and the city. It is complicated journalistic work that can exist in various genres – texts, multimedia formats which enable journalists to extend their influence on the audience.”
Yelena Davydova, the director of the Directorate of State Internet Projects MIA Russia Today, spoke about the internet project which is targeted at support of migrants: “We want to explain what Russia and its laws and traditions is, what Moscow is as a big metropolis. We want to spread the information in the regions from which migrants come to us. We want to let them know: it is possible to work in our country, but they should do it legally. We help them, give recommendations, we have lawyer’s consultations, they can ask questions online. I think we, the mass media, could change something.”
