RUSSIAN YOUTH AND SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE IMAGE OF THE FUTURE: SOCIAL CONTEXTS AND IDENTIFICATIONS

Abstract

He conceptualization of the notion of the "future" in sociology and related disciplines - along with the methodological and procedural issues involved in its study - is a popular topic; indeed, scores of scholars, particularly within the sociology of youth, have addressed and continue to address this subject. On the one hand, the image of the future consists of collective perceptions and projections of a desired or anticipated "tomorrow." On the other hand, it is a phenomenon resulting from discursive construction. At the same time, the image of the future is imbued with values and encased in a specific ideological and semantic framework, which manifests itself through the competition among the most influential discourses in society. The authors aim to examine the shifting focus of sociological studies regarding Russian youth's visions of the future and to identify key methodological and procedural approaches. Furthermore, in the author's view, the image of the future held by young people should be examined functionally within the context of their perceptions of and identification with their country. It is counterproductive to divorce the vision of one’s personal future from the vision of Russia’s future - a connection that manifests in the stability of civic identity and its underlying meaning. It is also essential to monitor the dynamics of migration sentiments among the student body and the extent to which their outlooks are linked to the country’s successful socioeconomic and scientific-technological development. The authors examine these issues drawing on their own research and studies by domestic sociologists. Trends regarding a positive vision of the future among the new generation of young people are inextricably linked to values such as family, personal well-being, self-realization, and technological advancement, yet they also reflect a significant demand for humanity and justice.