THE ESSENCE AND CONTENT OF "IDENTITY" AND "NATIONAL IDENTITY" IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES

The paper attempts to identify and analyze the system characteristics and the main components of national identity. It is shown that it is formed on the bases of the dominant paradigm in the intersection of the key national historical, socio-psychological, socio-cultural, political and other spheres. Its content consists of the established national culture, ethnic characteristics, customs, beliefs, myths, and moral imperatives, etc. Consid- erable space is devoted to the analysis of the causes and factors contributing to the crisis of national identity