On February 20, the opening of the 1st All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference “The Role of Civil Society in Countering Corruption” took place at Altai State University.
The flagship university of Altai Krai held a scientific-practical conference on the social and sociological aspects of combating corruption for the first time. About 50 representatives of higher educational institutions and public organizations from various regions of the Russian Federation, as well as representatives of Altai Krai Government, who are in charge of this issue, have shown interest in this topic.
Conference participants noted that a significant role in the issue of combating corruption is played by educational and outreach activities, to which great attention should be paid in higher educational institutions. In particular, the sociologists of ASU study issues related to the social mechanisms for the formation of a civil society, the definition of institutional and non-institutional factors influencing the formation and counteraction of corruption.
The conference presented preliminary results of studies conducted by sociologists of ASU in the autumn of 2018, during which 1,200 people and 30 experts aged 18 to 70 years from 14 districts and 4 cities of Altai Krai were surveyed. Scientists were interested not only in the attitude of people towards corruption, but also in how they understand the corruption processes, their active or passive citizenship, etc.
“We conducted a study that assessed the role of various public associations in counteracting corruption: their attitude to this topic, work mechanisms and technologies of counteraction. At the same time, the attitude of the population to various kinds of situations in corruption was considered,” Head of the Department of Psychology of Communications and Psychotechnologies at the Faculty of Sociology of ASU, Professor, Doctor of Sociology Svetlana G. Maksimova said.
It is to be noted that the organizers of the All-Russian Conference included Altai State University, the Faculty of Sociology of Altai State University, Asian Expert and Analytical Center of Altai State University, the Resource Center for Development of Civil Initiatives and Promotion of Integration of Peoples and Cultures in Altai Krai, Altai Regional Public Organization of Psychological and Social Support and Health Care "Positive Development".