print

Mass consciousness of Russian youth:
image of the future

Tokarev A.A.,

MGIMO University; HSE University, Moscow, Russia, a.tokarev@inno.mgimo.ru

elibrary_id: 637634 | ORCID: 0000-0002-8196-0518 | RESEARCHER_ID: AAD-3009-2020

Article received: 2024.01.22 22:16. Accepted: 2024.08.06 22:16


DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2024.06.11
EDN: URHHAF

Rubric: Russia today

For citation:

Tokarev A.A. Mass consciousness of Russian youth: image of the future. – Polis. Political Studies. 2024. No. 6. https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2024.06.11. EDN: URHHAF (In Russ.)

The article was prepared within the issue “Applied sociology of the image of the Russian future: values and attitudes of mass consciousness” 123091200066-0 with the support of EISR and the Ministry of Education and Science at INION RAS.

Abstract

This is the second text within the all-Russian research on the image of the future in the mass consciousness using the methods of empirical sociology. In 2021-2024, researchers conducted 67 focus groups in 25 regions from Moscow to Kamchatka. In addition to diverse geography, the authors consider all types of localities as a research space: from supercities to small towns and villages. Two key methods are used: focus groups and psychography. Images of Russia in the present and in the future are described not only using words, but also presented in pictures by respondents. This text focuses on the study of mass consciousness of young people (age 18-30) and more local trends in geographical, generational, political and economic senses. The text highlights eight key trends in the mass consciousness of young people: socialization within Western culture, the highest level of paternalism (including the desired restoration of certain Soviet practices), weakening frustration due to cancel culture regarding Russia and its citizens from the West, demonstrative public depoliticization, permanent desire for a peaceful future with Russia's leading role in the international arena, etc. Despite the uneven attitude towards state institutions, the Fatherland is perceived by the mass consciousness of young people as a place to apply their own efforts to build a career and solve problems. The results of the study demonstrate the highest margin of safety of the Russian state, which has no alternatives regarding the construction of the image of the future.

 

Keywords

applied sociology, focus groups, psychographic method, image of the future, mass consciousness, ideology, youth.

Dezhnev, V.N. (2021). The image of the future of Russia as a reflection of traditional domestic values. Society: Philosophy, History, Culture, 12, 108-113. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24158/fik.2021.12.17

Dombrovskaya, A.Y., & Ognev, A.S. (2022). Consolidation potential of symbols of the future Russia in the minds of Russian youth: instrumental cognitive science. Central Russian Journal of Social Sciences, 17(6), 87-105. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22394/2071-2367-2022-17-6-87-105

Gorshkov, M.K., Tikhonova, N.E., Andreev, A.L., Anikin, V.A., Barash, R.E., Kolennikova, N.D., Latova, N.V., Mareeva, S.V., & Sedova, N.N. (2023). Molodezh' i Rossiya budushchego [Youth and the Russia of the future]. Moscow: Ves Mir. (In Russ.)

Ilyicheva, M.V. (2023). The image of the country's future in the views of Russian students: transformation in the face of changes and crisis shocks. Izvestiya Tula State University, 3, 39-56. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24412/2071-6141-2023-3-39-56

Kolennikova, N.D. (2023). Images of “Russia of the future” in the representations of its citizens. Sociological Studies, 10, 91-103. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31857/S013216250028307-0

Komarovsky, V.S. (2020). Image of the Desired Future of Russia: Problems of Formation. Vlast, 28(1), 45-50. (In Russ.)

Neshkov, S.V. (2021). The image of the future as a means of destabilizing the internal political situation in Russia. Political Science Issues, 11(5), 1435-1438. (In Russ.)

Omelchenko, D.A., Maksimova, S.G., Noyanzina, O.E., & Shcheglova, D.K. (2021). Image of the future of Russia among different generations: conceptual background and empirical results. Society and Security Insights, 4(4), 110-140. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.14258/ssi(2021)4-05

Palitay, I.S. (2022). The image of the present and future of Russia in the mind student youth of Moscow. Abyss (Studies in Philosophy, Political Science and Social Anthropology), 2,12-18. (In Russ.)

Selezneva, A.V. (2022). Rossiiskaya molodezh'. Politiko-psikhologicheskii portret na fone epokhi [Russian youth. Political and psychological portrait on the background of the epoch]. Moscow: Akvilon. (In Russ.)

Smulkina, N.V., & Rogach, N.N. (2022). Images of the past, present and future of Russia: symbolic dimension. Outlines of Global Transformations: Politics, Economics, Law, 15(5), 89-106. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31249/kgt/2022.05.05

Tokarev, A.A., Kravchuk, I.D., Boyko, M.Y., & Ilyinsky, R.V. (2022). Sociology of the Russian image of the future: preliminary results. Polis. Political Studies, 5,117-136. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2022.05.09

Tuchina, O.R. (2020). Social identity and the vision of the future (a case study of Kuban youth). Psychology. Historical-critical Reviews and Current Researches, 9(2-1), 127-134. (In Russ.)

Velikaya, N.M., & Doroshina, A.V. (2022). Self-identification of youth in the Moscow region as a factor of constructing the image of the Russia's future. Izvestiya of Saratov University. Sociology. Politology, 22(1), 31-38. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18500/1818-9601-2022-22-1-31-38

Vilkov, A.A. (2022). Value and ideological factor of formation of the image of Russia's future among modern youth (Regional case). Izvestiya of Saratov University. Sociology. Politology, 22(1), 101-107. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18500/1818-9601-2022-22-1-101-107

See also: