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Social Structure of Society
The ruling elite
1-2 %
The middle class
medium and small entrepreneurs,
managers and owners
15-20 %
The basic layer
includes the intelligentsia
and workers with good qualifications
40-50%
The lower stratum
low-skilled workers, as well as refugees and immigrants
30-35 %
Ethnic Structure of Society
Tatar
The term Tatar generally refers to Turkic-speaking living in Russia and post-Soviet states, but the Tatars have a long and complicated history reaching back to the 13th Century. In 1206, the Tatars allied with the Mongol Empire under the rule of Genghis Kahn. Since then the Tatar people have dispersed across Europe. Nowadays roughly 3.7% of the Russian population are Tatar, at least half of which reside in the Republic of Tatarstan. The Tatar people have a very distinct culture famous for its Asiatic dress and national dishes such as Öçpoçmaq. As you can probably see from the Turkic script of their national dish очпочмак, the Tatar people also have their own official language in addition to Russian. Finally, Tatarstan is renowned for holding the balance of Muslim and Orthodox faiths at its core and have a rich folk history. Equality of religion before the law is particularly evident in the mix of religious attractions in the Republic’s capital Kazan. The Temple of All Religions is featured above.
Ukrainian
When asked to name soups in Russian, most people will list borscht as a famous national dish, but borscht actually originates from Ukraine. It is not just Ukrainian food, however, that is widespread in Russia, ethnic Ukrainians make up 1.4% of the population in the Russian Federation. Like Russians, the Ukrainian’s main religion has historically been Orthodox Christianity which influences many of its customs and traditions. As with other traditions, many people are familiar with the Ukrainian national dress called vyshivanka.
Bashkir
The Bashkirs are a Turkic ethnic group indigenous to the Republic of Bashkortostan in the Ural Mountains. Like the Tatars, Bashkirs have their own language rooted in Turkish, they were part of the Mongolian Empire in the 13th Century and is influenced by the Sunni Muslim Religion. Bashkir is traditionally well-known for its agricultural activity, including cattle-rearing and bee-keeping. The Bashkir people make up about 1.4% of the Russian population.
Chuvash
The Chuvash people are also a Turkish ethnic group, but they have a contentious origin within academic schools of thought. Some argue that they originated from a mixing of the nomadic Sabir tribes of Volga Bulgaria and the Finno-Ugric population, while others believe they may have descended from Volga Bulgars. The Chuvash people make up about 1% of the population and are known for being very attached to their land and sustaining themselves through their own labour. The language of the Chuvash people has Turkish influences, but deviates further from its roots than other similar languages.
Chechen
The Chechen people in the North Caucasus are probably one of the most well-known ethnic groups world-wide. You may be familiar with this part of the country as it largely features in Russian literature, including in the aptly named Tolstoy novel Казаки (The Cossacks). Chechens are one of the Nakh people who have lived in the Caucasus highlands since pre-history. Chechen society is unique in the modern day because it is still structured around clans, but still maintains a strong sense of nationhood. Chechens remain a largely Muslim people and make up 1% of the Russia population.
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