National and Socio-Cultural Values in the Perception of Russian Youth

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2023-1/102-124

Abstract

The article publishes the results of socio-anthropological research of the life strategies of Russian youth. To study the students' perception of general national values and Russian identity, mass and expert surveys with a single design were conducted in universities of 8 regions of four Federal districts of the Russian Federation: The Far Eastern, Volga, North Caucasian and Central districts. The analysis of the awareness of boys and girls of their national, ethnic and regional identities showed that the national of identity predominates among young people. The vast majority of respondents positioned themselves as citizens of the country and considered whole Russia as their homeland. It was observed that in the mass consciousness of students there is general unanimity about the most important events in national history, which include the victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, the launch of the world's first satellite and the first human space flight. Students' perception of the achievements and activities of the state in the post-Soviet period is less stable, as the social attitude towards contemporary events is just being formed. Nevertheless, the results of the study suggest the paramount importance of scientific discoveries, cultural and sports events for the emergence of patriotic feelings among modern students. Differences in the answers depending on the region may indicate the specifics of political attitudes, reactions to external threats, orientations for priority participation in regional or national projects typical for young people in each particular region. The difference in students' judgments is also to some extent influenced by the curricula and the quality of education in metropolitan and provincial higher education institutions.