Barash R.E. Russian youth's historical memory: sources, narratives, and priorities. The Digital Scholar: Philosopher’s Lab. 2025. Vol. 8. No. 4. P. 83-95.

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Abstract

The article explores the specific features of the historical memory of Russian youth within the context of contemporary socio-political processes. Based on the analysis of sociological data from the Institute for Sociological Studies of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2020-2024), the study examines the key sources shaping the historical consciousness of youth, their historical competence, and the influence of historical narratives on national identity and perceptions of the country’s future. It is shown that the younger generation demonstrates a high interest in national history; however, their historical memory is “concentrated” and pragmatic, focusing on events relevant to the present (Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the reunification of Crimea, the Sochi Olympics). Particular attention is paid to the role of digital resources, family memory, and the official narrative in shaping young people’s historical perceptions. Differences in the perception of historical events between young people and older generations are identified, and the priorities of youth in the country’s development are determined: strengthening state sovereignty and economic growth. The article also examines ideas about patriotism among different age groups and reveals a significant difference in the perception of patriotism between generations: the older generation shows a higher level of support for the idea of patriotism as an attentive attitude to history (79 % and 68 %, respectively), while among young people, these indicators are 68 % and 57 %. The scientific novelty of the research lies in a comprehensive analysis of the historical memory of Russian youth, taking into account the interaction of sociological data, the influence of digital resources, family memory, the official narrative, and the connection with ideas about the future of the country. An assessment of the role of digital media in shaping the historical memory of Russian youth is proposed, and contradictions between the value attitudes of different generations and ways of interpreting national history are identified.