Family as a Determinant of Ethnic Communities Transformation

On the basis of T. Parsons’ classical concept of social institutions the authors consider the family as a social institution and its role in determining the transformation of interethnic communities. The model of the mechanism of determination is offered including the ethnic structure of the population, type of family, intergenerational relations in the family, social and interethnic attitudes of children (youth), acculturation strategies of youth, social communication of family with other social institutions. The model is verified with the materials of specific sociological studies in the republics of Sakha (Yakutia), Khakassia, Tuva. The positive role of ethnically mixed families in the integration of interethnic communities is revealed.