Scholarly record

TRENDS OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY YOUTH. CASE STUDY OF SVERDLOVSK OBLAST

A. V. Ponomarev, L. Tolvaisis, A. Lantsev, E. V. Osipchukova

Abstract

The study aims to explain motivational and behavioural patterns of political participation of Russian university youth in the context of contemporary trends in youth political participation in Europe and beyond. It is based on a sociological survey conducted among a sample of 976 students aged 18-21 in 12 higher education institutions of Sverdlovsk Oblast, a region found to be representative of RussiaВ’s youth at large. The findings show that, in line with a global trend, beside alienation from conventional political activism that does not meet its expectations and problems, Russian university youth exhibits duty citizenship values by its orientation toward social usefulness of their political activity, but also draws closer to the model of engaged participation embraced by European and American youth, seeking to acquire new skills and to diversify its life by means of participation in political activity. Our research indicates that the function of youth political socialization pursued by university on the local level in cooperation with municipality might suit youth expectations and motivate young people to become main agents of social innovation more efficiently than federal-level models aimed at a formal inclusion of youth.

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