Abstract: Special attention in this article is paid to the relationship between mythology and the modern idea of mentality. The conceptual foundations of national identity in the framework of the constructivist theory of international relations correlate with historical retrospect. The experience of assessing cultural characteristics suggests a close connection of the modern manifestation of identity with folklore, customs, histories and traditions of a certain society. The national identity of the people inhabiting the Kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark from the point of view of the soft power of states often refers to Scandinavian mythology. The role of the mythological perception of national identity helps to correctly interpret the peculiarities of the Northern mentality, contribute to building a cultural dialogue in the modern world. The main conclusion of the article is that the hermeneutical approach to the analysis of documents of Scandinavian mythology helps to understand the current trends in the development of Northern societies. The national question in the framework of constructivist theory is based on identity, which is closely related to historical retrospect, understanding the basics of which allows you to build a modern dialogue. The novelty of this study lies in the assessment of mythological cognition from the point of view of its role in the formation of the national identity of the Northern peoples. According to the constructivist theory of international relations, he argues that the modern world is built at the expense of invisible constructs, a detailed analysis of which helps to find a balance in the system of international relations.

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the examination of identity of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the Arctic in the context of environmental interdependence. The author reviews the current situation in the Arctic as a symbiosis of domestic and foreign policy of the Russian Federation being northern country. The transformation of identity is an implicit challenge for sustainable development in the region. The subject of this research is the phenomenon of self-determination of the indigenous population in the context of environmental agenda. The author dwells on the existing theoretical approaches towards studying the phenomenon of interdependence. The article aims to prove that the problematic of the identity of indigenous population may become a serious challenge for the foreign policy of the Russian Federation in the region. The novelty of this research consists on the fact that due to the Russian Chairmanship in the Arctic Council (2021 – 2023), the problem of self-determination of the indigenous small-numbered population remains unresolved, which generates an implicit threat to sustainable development of the region from the perspective of foreign policy discourse of the country. The conclusion is drawn that the existing environmental support initiatives through the international organizations and government structures of the Russian Federation and the Nordic countries do not imply direct representatives from the indigenous small-numbered population. The absence of a permanent dialogue results in the unconscious shift towards dependence.