MODERN TRENDS IN THE STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON OF “POLYCULTURALISM” IN RUSSIAN AND FOREIGN SCIENCE: METHODOLOGICAL ASPECT

Abstract

The article examines issues of defining the phenomenon “multiculturalism”, and also analyzes the problem field of research of this phenomenon in Russian and foreign science. To concretize the phenomenon of “multiculturalism”, component analysis, as well as data from scientometry and bibliometry are used. The analysis of the structural components of the concept reveals the unambiguity of the interpretation of the first component – the multiplicity of something, as well as the tendency of interpenetration of some spheres of science into the field of others in the interpretation of the second component, which significantly expands its original meaning. The results of the scientometric analysis allows to conclude that foreign scientists pay much more attention to the study of the problem of multiculturalism, while Russian scientists pay much more attention to polyculturalism. The analysis of the thematic direction of the articles revealed an increased interest of both sides in the research of this concept in the fields of sociology, pedagogy, philosophy, psychology. In contrast to Russian science, the most frequent directions abroad also include ethnic studies, social interdisciplinary sciences, and territorial studies. The results of the component analysis reveal a narrowing of the semantic field of the phenomenon “polyculturalism”.