Abstract. The article analyzes the most significant sociological teachings of the twentieth century, represented by the understanding sociology of M. Weber, the communicative theory of K. Deutsch, T. Parsons' structural functionalism and neofunctionalism, as well as the concept of citizenship of J. Habermas, K. Levi-Strauss' ethnological structuralism and E. Giddens' theory of structuration, which have shown their relevance and fruitfulness in the process of conceptualizing the concept of «civil identity» on the contemporary stage of the development of scientific knowledge.

Key words: social interaction, intercultural communication, dialogue of cultures, orientation to the other, citizenship, self-identification.