Comparative Analysis of Causal Mechanisms, Prevention and Regulation of the Ethno-Social Conflicts in Academe: Cases of Russia and Ukraine

The basic research questions of the study that authors will present at the third ISA Forum are:

1)      What are the causal social mechanisms that determine a possibility of the ethnic/racial tensions and conflicts in the academe?

2)       Is it possible to prevent, to control and to normalize such conflicts?  What are the rountines and technieques of the prevention and control?

Specific research question include, but are not limited to: how can researchers deal with their own emotions within the analysis of ethnic, national, racial problematics? How can one delineate an emotional culture empirically? Is it true that emotions in the processes of protests are “painted into the colours of national flags”? In looking at these research questions more closely the authors will use causal comparative models and experimental designs and counterfactual analytical techniques.

In terms of methodology the study is oriented toward three basic approaches: the first is Comparative perspective centering two strategies – qualitative and quantitative and using mixed methods research; the second is Computational social sciences converging most recent tactics of using computers’ and software’s potentials as well as computational methods for studying social processes; the third is focusing on the approaches progressed in Visual Sociology.

There is still a need of methodological reflection for empirical research of ethnic conflicts and emotional involvement into protest activities. The authors welcome the approaches of studying discontent, social interactions and emotions empirically on the basis of exploration into everyday life practices of designated groups in academic milieu: professors, students, administrative, staff, and research supporting staff.