Political Socialization Of Youth In Post Soviet States

Abstract The field of political socialization has been generally identified as a useful tool in the study of American political behavior. However, growing number of researchers urge for the expansion of the field due to its high potential for addressing vital issues in the study of comparative and international politics. Utilizing post-Soviet Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine as theoretical model, this study discusses the expediency of political socialization framework in identifying nation-building techniques. Examination and comparison of youth political socialization policies in Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine revealed the unsuccessful attempts of the first post-Soviet government to create politically involved youth to be employed for generating political support. The study further exhibited the shift of the current administrations to create patriotically conscious, rather than politically active, youth to be used for generating and maintaining political approval for the existing regimes.

This study involves research into bureaucratic behaviour and group interest articulation, and repercussions of cultural, society-government (party) relations. It studies the reasons why Soviet citizens do not do what the Party and State expect: to test an hypothesis that there is something about the Soviet character particularly that of the Great Russian - that inhibits acceptance of the Party line and plans to remake the individual in Lenin's image.

The book is a combined effort of scholars who participated in a conference entitled "Post-Soviet Youth: A Comparative Study." The book focuses on the post-perestroika period, a time of great instability and change on the national and individual level. It analyzes the effect of this dynamic on youth, who in the transitional phase of adolescence are particularly susceptible to social disruption. The scope includes not only youth who remained in the former Soviet Union but also those who emigrated to the West- Israel, Germany, the U.S. and Greece. It was considered important to place this study in a cross-cultural framework in order to differentiate between local influences and the common denominators from the Soviet background. From Pacesetters to Dropouts offers an important contribution to the study of the effect of a particular form of socialization on youth in a period of stress and change. It is relevant not only to understanding the changes undergone by an important segment of society in the former Soviet Union but also to studying the experience of other immigrant groupings in an era characterized by widespread migration.

No detailed description available for "The Soviet Youth Program".