Abstract: The subject of this research is the ethnic identity in public consciousness of the population of the Republic of Mari El. Based on the latest sociological data (acquired in 2018) the author reviews the factors and level of ethnic self-identification of modern youth of the region. The key ethno-identification factors are depending on civil-identification problems, ethnic affiliation, place of residence, and level of education of young respondents are examined. For creating a diachronic context for studying the ethno-identification mentality of young people in the XXI century, the author employs the data from sociological surveys carried out in 2001 and 2011. The article also analyzes the youth’s assessment of their own level ethnic identification and criteria for determination of nationality of a person. The scientific novelty consists in the empirical material introduced into scientific discourse for the first time  in the context of the selected topic, as well as the in its problematic (the specificity of manifestation ethno-identification factors in different youth groups, diachronic context of research, youth’s assessment of own ethno-identification level, representation on the criteria for determination of nationality of a person), which is also examined for the first time within the regional ethno-sociological science. The article proves that the system of key factors of ethnic identification, recorded in the course of 2018 study, was relevant throughout the entire XXI century: the language and folk traditions remain of major importance, but the quantitative indicators have changed; a significant role is also assigned to such factors as culture, place of residence, origin, which were not considered primary in the sociological surveys;  personal characteristics (character traits and psychology, appearance traits) become less meaningful from the perspective of ethnic identity. The highest self-identification level is observed among youth with showing most affection towards their “small motherland” and place of origin of the ethnos, as well as those with a broader life and cultural outlook.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the national affiliation and national pride within the structure of ethnic identity of population of the Mari El Republic. The topic is reviewed considering the ethnic factor opposition characteristic to the region (Russians, Mari, and other ethnic groups), as well as such indexes as gender, age, financial situation, place of residence, etc. The relevance is substantiated by the need for examination of the current ethnopolitical situation in polyethnic subjects of the Russian Federation, and the role of ethnic identification factors within. This article is a generalization of the results of sociological surveys of the first two decades of the XXI century, conducted by the department of Sociology of the Mari Scientific Research Institute of Language, Literature and History named after V. M. Vasiliev. The scientific novelty consists in the empirical material that is introduced to the scientific circulation in such context for the first time, as well as its problematic (nationality and national pride within the structure of ethnic identity of the population in Mari El Republic). The research proves that population of the Republic attends to ethnopolitical values; the highest level of ethnic self-identification is marked among male of other (except Mari and Russians ) ethnic groups (including Tatars), youth between 15 and 19 years of age and senior citizens above 60 years of age, students of humanitarian specialties, and wealthy people.