During the course of the twentieth century, the Soviet Union rose and fell, and Russia re-emerged. The Russians were left “feeling robbed of a sense of place, of purpose and of identity” . By the mid-1990’s, Russia, while contending with the ups and downs of economic crisis and the health of its leaders, was trying to find its own course, attempting to resurrect past glories, learn from recent mistakes, and forge a place in a community of nations. Together with society, youth was going through a period of change in its ideological, economic and moral values. According to Martha Olcott, “it was Russian youth, who seemed to suffer disproportionately from the numerous social disorders in the USSR at the end of the decade”. Ilynsky talks about the widespread moral decay in Russia in the 1990’s and the lack of direction among many young people – “their poor understanding of freedom, lack of faith in politicians, growing sense of injustice and general concerns about what the future might bring”.
Russian identity is and has been a topic of continual argument, of conflicting claims, competing images, contradictory criteria. According to S. Franklin, “Russia is continually represented as a question, a field of possibilities, a set of contradictions”. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 even more intensified self-questioning in the “new” Russia started. Usually, such questions have been posed by the young population of Russia who happened to live in the period of global economic and ideological transitions. What kind of country is Russia to be? What has happened to young people in the post-Communist phase? The focus of this paper is how the changing economic, political and social geography of Russia affected the youth since the fall of communism in 1991. I will reflect upon the typical portrait and particular features of the post-Soviet youth. My research question is as follow: “What images, sentiments, and obligations do young Russians attribute to their homeland, and how do these contribute to an understanding of their notions of ethnicity, patriotism, and nationalism?”
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Chapter I
- Value system and patriotism in post-Soviet Russia
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the impact of Russia's changing economic, political, and social landscape on its youth since the fall of communism in 1991. The author aims to understand how young Russians view their homeland and how these perceptions contribute to their understanding of ethnicity, patriotism, and nationalism.
- The effects of the fall of communism on Russian youth
- The evolving identity of Russia and its impact on youth
- The rise of new ideologies and subcultures in post-Soviet Russia
- The relationship between patriotism, nationalism, and Russian youth
- The challenges and opportunities facing young Russians in a rapidly changing world
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter I: Value system and patriotism in post-Soviet Russia
This chapter examines the profound changes that occurred in Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, focusing on their impact on the value system and patriotism of young Russians. It discusses the rise of extremist nationalist groups, the proliferation of informal youth groups, and the challenges of navigating a rapidly changing world. The chapter explores the disillusionment of young Russians, their exposure to diverse worldviews, and their pursuit of identity and purpose in a post-communist era.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary themes and concepts explored in this work include the evolving identity of Russia, the impact of the fall of communism on Russian youth, the rise of new ideologies and subcultures, the relationship between patriotism, nationalism, and Russian youth, and the challenges and opportunities facing young Russians in a rapidly changing world.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Arts Nadia Ptashchenko (Author), 2008, Young people in post-Soviet Russia, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/133272
