The Dynamics of Youth Values in the Conditions of Social Instability: Case of Contemporary Russia

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the dynamics of Russian youth values in the circumstances of moral and ethical instability of Russian society in 2012–2018. The central focus of the research was inspired by the idea of analytical extrapolation of R. Inglehart’s theory of intergenerational value change in the context of contemporary Russian society. The period between 2012 and 2018 was accompanied by complexities in international situation and difficulties in social and economic development of Russian society. These new challenges changed the context of the growing up and socialization of Russian youth. Implementation of R. Inglehart’s theory helps to formulate a hypothesis about the essence of influence of these changes on the values of youth. It is possible to say, that complication of the circumstances of growing up and socialization created a favorable basis for popularization of materialistic values among Russian youth. This hypothesis was tested by the author by comparison of youth’s surveys data, conducted in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The survey has shown that the evolution of youth values between 2012 and 2018 was noticeable. It should be noted that materialistic values are not the key ones for Russian youth. Situation of new risks and challenges made young Russians even more indifferent to these values.
 Keywords: youth, values, beliefs, the dynamics of values, a change in values, a value query, socialization