Social, cultural and political aspects of national identity

Аннотация

National identity is considered as one of the most important forms of collective identities in nowadays world. This paper is devoted to the conceptual investigation of different aspects of this social phenomenon such as social, historical, political and cultural dimensions. Authors define troubles on the way of constructing national identity on the example of Afghanistan society. They separate and analyze different problems of social-cultural and political formation of united national identity. In the modern time the national identity is usually determined by two primary opposite forces: globalization and localization processes. Both phenomena are simultaneously shatter the national identity and strengthen it through global and local communication processes. Under influence of the fast and extensive changes in global system in the last decades of the twentieth century and the beginning of new century the questions and discussions about ethnic and national identity and their different aspects, about the prospect of identity of ethnic communities and new challenges of multicultural society are proposed as basic and essential issues of social policy of state. The current condition of social and cultural aspects of society life shows us a general view of national identity as far as they include primary identification elements of individuals and communities in every society. Different ethnic values and customs, contradictory ideas about the role of nation and attitude to another ethnic group have led to alienation of humans and difficulties of constructing their national identity. Under the influence of collapse of traditional systems and structures like rural and tribal societies, extension of urbanization, population growth, increase of social movements, intensification of interactions between different cultures and ethnicities in transition societies, the majority of people, especially the youth, are exposed to influence of different and sometimes conflicting local, national and global trends. So they are confused between tradition and modernity. In such conditions an anomy and social disorder prepares grounds for identity crisis, opposition against norms and social control, reduction of social resources and deprivation of national interests, violence and insecurity in society. In conclusion the authors underline that that solution of problem of constructing strong national identity is the step for national development and creating a well-founded government. Rise of integrate cultural values, design of social patterns and common collective sense system would allow establish and reconstruct the nation.

Key words: conception of identity, national identity, ethnic identity.