The staff of the Moscow Institute of Sociology organized a round table at the VII All-Russian Sociological Congress

From November 12 to 14, 2025, the 7th All-Russian Sociological Congress "Sociology and Society: The Formation and Functioning of Public Memory" was held in Moscow. On November 13, as part of the congress, staff from the International Laboratory for Social Integration Research (ILSIR) held Roundtable Discussion #13, "Are Outsiders Allowed? Definitions and Challenges of an Inclusive Society."

As part of the Congress, the ILSIR staff held Round Table No. 13 , "Are Outsiders Allowed? Definitions and Challenges of an Inclusive Society."

 

The round table was chaired by  Maria Andreevna Kozlova (Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor, Chief Researcher of the ILSIR) and Elena Rostislavovna Iarskaya-Smirnova (Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor, Head of the ILSIR), the scientific secretary was Yana Sergeevna Rocheva  (Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor), and the coordinator was   Artem Mikhailovich Kulanin (graduate student, research intern of the ILSIR).

The event focused on the key challenges and prospects for the formation and development of an inclusive society in Russia. The discussion featured 12 presentations, covering the topic of inclusion across various aspects of social life.

Particular attention was paid to issues of inclusive education. Participants discussed teachers' and parents' perceptions of inclusive schools, the institutional and spatial causes of exclusionary inclusion, as well as stigmatization and common stereotypes in the educational environment. It was noted that spatial conditions and organizational practices can both support and hinder inclusion.

An equally important part of the discussion was the participation of people with disabilities in the workforce. The barriers they face in the labor market were examined, as were resources that facilitate their involvement in entrepreneurship and factors that determine the readiness of people with disabilities for self-employment (reports on these topics reflected the interim results of Project 25-28-20277, "Barriers and Drivers for Involving Young Professionals with Disabilities in Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship through Participation in Professional Skills Competitions (using the Moscow Abilympics Championship as an Example)," implemented with the support of the Russian Science Foundation). The impact of inclusive policies on the reputation of organizations and professional relationships was also raised.

The roundtable concluded with presentations on issues of inclusion in social and cultural spheres. Participants discussed practices for supporting inclusion in society, the needs of deaf people, particularly in the urban context, and the importance of preserving and developing the cultures and languages ​​of minority communities through various initiatives in cultural institutions.

The roundtable brought together inclusion researchers from various Russian cities and universities, making the discussion particularly insightful and rich. Each presentation was a step toward creating a more inclusive society, one in which every person, regardless of their unique circumstances, can realize their potential and fully participate in public life.