The Interconnection between the Ethnic Policy and Geopolitics in the North Caucasus

This article analyzes one of the key, in the author's opinion, factors determining the geopolitical situation in the North Caucasus from the point of view of ensuring regional and national security of the Russian Federation. The main attention is focused on the most important aspects of the problem of the region. It is shown that the importance of the North Caucasus as the southernmost boundary of the geopolitical space of Russia is largely determined by the fact that it is the most problem region of the Russian Federation by its ethnic and national composition, indicators of social and economic development, high level of conflict, etc. According to the author, many problems, including high conflict potential in the region, are closely connected with this factor. Therefore, neutralization of centrifugal tendencies in the national federation subjects should be considered in close interconnection of geopolitics, ethnic policy and security.