Unlike the transboundary regions of Mountain ecosystems in Europe (Alps) with high population density and the integration of the rural economy into the regional and World markets, most of the Mountainous regions of the Russian Federation are characterized by the stability of traditional forms of nature management and life support, which determine, on the one hand, natural (or "old") distinctiveness of the economy of rural enclaves and, on the other hand, the preservation of social institutions based on family and relative ties, the solidarity of fellow villagers, on the cohesion of the rural community and the viability of traditional culture and ethnic identification. Regarding the general trends and consequences of the migration of inhabitants of  Mountainous regions of Dagestan and North Ossetia to the lowland, it can be concluded that the prospects of ethnocultural dynamics in these republics are determined not only by the factors of urbanization, the growth of the absolute number and proportion of the population of predominantly Russian-speaking lowland urban and rural settlements and by the functional stagnation of local languages, but also by the demographic depression, depopulation of Mountainous territories, the gradual disappearance of  Mountain villages, which can be considered almost the only mono-ethnic enclaves and social environments that ensure the reproduction of ethnolinguistic and ethnocultural identity in generations. In this regard, the importance of regional and federal social policy courses aimed at sustainable socio-economic and environmental development of Mountainous territories, preserving their demographic potential and ethnocultural particularities is emphasized.

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Очерчен круг методологических проблем в отечественной историографии этнонациональной политики. Анализируются тенденции изменения предметной области исследований, определяемые сменой научных парадигм, включением современных этнических процессов в контекст генезиса государственных институтов, политических, социально-экономических и культурных процессов и идеологических конструктов. Предложено качественное изменение предметного поля интеграционных исследований на стыке истории, этнографии, этнологии, социологии, политологии и культурологии. Ключевые слова: национальная политика; методология; методика; этносоциальная обстановка; этнологические экспертизы; историческое мифотворчество.

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This article aims at a preliminary study of the status and prospects of the use of ethno-cultural and demographic  potential of Dagestan in the recreational and socio-economic development of Mountainous areas of the North Caucasus region, so-called mountain tourism for example: spas, sanatoria, skiing, climbing, trekking and handicrafts.  The perspectives of development of recreational opportunities in the North Caucasus are strongly connected with the population mobility and the stability of ethno-social situation and so have to be to be considered in the context of inter-ethnic (economic and cultural) communications of  largely outsider authorities and inhabitants on regional and international levels. In this sense, acknowledgement of the country its culture, an introduction to the history of traditional economic specialization and its evolution, traditional customs and ethnic particularities, seems very important. The practical, social significance of the development of recreational potential is determined by its metaphysical place in the preservation of historical-cultural and natural heritage: traditional social-support systems, economic specialization, and the handicraft centers.  Ignored by previous researchers, the fact that the phenomena of "ethnic economy", "ethnic entrepreneurship" and "preservation of traditional social institutions" of the peoples of the Caucasus (in this case) can be traced at all stages of their history, manifesting its exceptional stability during periods of change, such as local forms of government, changes of political regimes and ideological systems. Moreover, it is often ignored that the actual problems of integration of these social institutions into ‘state-modernized’ Russian society are the basic factors or reasons for destabilizing the system of interethnic relations. This occurs especially in areas where various forms of ethnic entrepreneurship are represented by first- or second-generation often forced migrants. We propose a practical approach to advise local good policy.