The regions of Volga Federal District: Ethnic identity as a political project

The author makes an attempt to analyze the methods and mechanisms of the actualization of ethnic identity in the regions of Volga Federal District. The working hypothesis is the thesis that a big political project is necessary for a successful actualization of ethnic identity. Three examples are used as the argument - successful use of ethnic identity in Tatarstan, the unsuccessful attempt to actualize the ethnic identity of the Bashkirs, and the long-term Finno-Ugric project, which is oriented to the future. The main conclusion of the paper is that a strong connection exists between the process of actualization of ethnic identity in the regions of Volga Federal District and questions of national security. Any attempt to use ethnic identity for political aims brings threat to the political system of the Russian Federation