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 reflection of modern urban population of the Mari El Republic towards the interethnic and Interconfessional marriages. This problem is a part of the circle of relevant questions of monitoring of the current state of interethnic relations in polyethnic regions of the Russian Federation, as well as actualized within the framework of studying the questions regarding the ethnocultural integration in the society. Empirical material is provided by the data acquired in the course of sociological survey among the residents of Mari El Republic, conducted in 2015 by the department of Sociology of the Mari El Scientific Research Institute of Language, Literature, and History named after V. M. Vasilyev on the topic of “Interethnic and Interconfessional Relations in the Mari El Republic”. The applies in the article sociological data is introduced into the scientific discourse in form of the selected target context for the first time. The attitude of the modern residents of the republic towards the interethnic marriages is analyzed with consideration of their gender and age specificity, level of education, and national affiliation; their reflection regarding the Interconfessional marriages is viewed taking into account the nature and level of their religiosity. The article demonstrates that on one hand, the modern urban environment of the Mari El Republic, in general, is a vivid manifestation of the interethnic and Interconfessional tolerance and readiness to ethnic integration and intercultural interaction; while on the other hand, in the context of separate groups of the urban population, there is a high level of concern for the fate of the ethnic identity and national culture. The author substantiates the fact that the majority of residents have neutral attitude towards the Interconfessional marriages, and believes that nationality does not matter in the marriage.