Transit and Barrier Identities in the Post-Soviet Space
( Pp. 191-197)
More about authors
Senik Nikita M.
postgraduate student
St. Petersburg State University
Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
St. Petersburg State University
Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Abstract:
Geopolitical tensions in the world necessitate the search for tools to build effective cross-country dialogue. The identity of the peoples inhabiting the post-Soviet space provides a rich material for the study of domestic and foreign policy strategies aimed at strengthening sovereignty, building national self-awareness, and resolving geopolitical conflicts. In this article, we propose to introduce into scientific circulation two new terms – “transit identity” and “barrier identity” – which, from our point of view, make it possible not only to most accurately describe the complex socio-political reality that has developed in the former republics of the USSR over the past 35 years, but also to predict with a high degree of probability their future sovereignty and geopolitical position. “Transit identity,” as the more effective one, is examined in the article using the example of the Republic of Belarus, whose development model allows it to adapt more flexibly to a rapidly changing situation, ensuring transit not only in politics and economics, but also in a more global civilizational sense, transmitting meanings, symbols, and ideas. The proposed typology has high heuristic value and can be applied to other regions, including countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
How to Cite:
Senik, N.M. (2026). Transit and barrier identities in the post-Soviet space. Sociopolitical Sciences, 16(2), 191–197. DOI: 10.33693/2223-0092-2026-16-2-191-197. EDN: QSEGJO
Reference list:
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Przeworski A., Teune H. The logic of comparative social inquiry. New York: Wiley-Interscience, 1970. 153 p. DOI: 10.2307/1958372.
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Mezhevich N.M., Senik N.M. Lithuania’s economy: Thirty years of reforms. In: The Western flank of the CIS and the Baltic States: Results of 30 years of independence. K.P. Kurylev (ed.). Moscow: LENAND, 2023. Pp. 287–299. ISBN: 978-5-9710-7503-5. EDN: LXXUVA.
Senik N.M. Belarus and the Baltic States: In persuit for post-Soviet identity in light of shifting relations with Russia. Sociopolitical Sciences. 2024. Vol. 14. No. 5. Pр. 127–132. (In Rus.). DOI: 10.33693/2223-0092-2024-14-5-127-132. EDN: RYBZSX.
Senik N.M. Deconstructing European identity in the context of the current geopolitical crisis. Sociopolitical Sciences. 2026. Vol. 16. No. 1. Pp. 161–169. (In Rus.). DOI: 10.33693/2223-0092-2026-16-1-161-169. EDN: LHMBUA.
Mezhevich N.M., Senik N.M. Belarus, the Baltic States, Ukraine: Positioning models in a changing world. The World of Transformation. 2022. Vol. 4. Pp.73–88. (In Rus.). DOI: 10.51905/2073-3038_2022_4_73. EDN: DYYKPS.
Adler E. Seizing the middle ground: Constructivism in world politics. European Journal of International Relations. 1997. Vol. 3. No. 3. Pp. 319–363. DOI: 10.1177/1354066197003003003.
Anderson B. Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. New York: Verso, 2006. 240 p. ISBN: 9781844670864.
Bourdieu P. Distinction: A social critique of the judgement of taste. R. Nice (transl.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1984. 640 p. ISBN: 978-0674212770.
Brubaker R. Ethnicity without groups. European Journal of Sociology. 2002. Vol. 43. No. 2. Pp. 163–89. URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23999234
Gellner E. Nations and nationalism. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1983. 170 p. ISBN: 978-0801492631.
Hopf T. Social construction of international politics: Identities & foreign policies, Moscow, 1955 and 1999. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 2002. Vol. XVI. 299 p. ISBN: 0-8014-8791-9.
Mezhevich N.M., Markushina N.Yu. Russia and the Baltic States: Some results interstate relations. In: Baltic region – the region of cooperation. Processing of the Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. Cham: Springer, 2020. Pp. 53–59. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-14519-4_7. EDN: FFNYNR.
Przeworski A., Teune H. The logic of comparative social inquiry. New York: Wiley-Interscience, 1970. 153 p. DOI: 10.2307/1958372.
Wendt A. Social theory of international politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. 429 p. DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511612183.
Keywords:
identity politics, transit identity, barrier identity, post-Soviet space, Belarus, symbolic transit, civilizational mediation, constructivism.
