Researchers start studying stereotypes and realities of Dagestani Muslims

A joint research team of the Centre for Regional and Urban Studies and the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy has started polling Dagestani Muslims on "Values of Dagestani population". The questionnaire intended to study Dagestani Muslim communities may be found on the "Caucasian Knot".

The poll is conducted by the above joint research team, which includes Irina Starodubrovskaya, a researcher from the Gaidar Institute; Evgeny Varshaver, the Director of the Centre for Migration and Ethnic Studies and ethnicity of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (known as RANKhiGS); and Yegor Lazarev, a political analyst and expert from this Academy.

According to the initiators of the poll, their goal is to "form an adequate picture of the values and life goals of Dagestani Muslims"; they emphasize that so far the elaborations on this topic in the society are often built on fantasies and stereotypes.

Ms Starodubrovskaya has noted that it is in Dagestan, where "different views and ideologies of the Muslim world are represented most fully." It is planned to carry out similar polls in other republics.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.