Longitude studies of the patriotic mood of school youth in polyethnic regions (results of sociological surveys)

The article considers the formation of the patriotic mood of school youth in polyethnic regions of the Russian Federation based on the data of large-scale longitude generational studies that have been conducted since 1998 and are unprecedented in scale for both Russian and Western research tradition. The surveys have been conducted in twelve regions: Astrakhan and the Astrakhan region, Groznyy, Ivanovo, Krasnodar, Maikop, Makhachkala, Moscow, Nazran, Nalchik, Pskov and Stavropol. The project focuses on the views and values of the younger generations, on their conflict and tolerance potential. The main goal of the project is to support the younger generations capable of confronting and overcoming life difficulties, of suppressing one’s negative and conflict reactions, of protecting one’s interests and respecting the interests of others, which would lead to the development of culture of tolerance and consent and to preventing xenophobia manifestations. For the study of ethnic-social attitudes, for the identification of conflict potential, for the prevention of conflicts and manifestations of xenophobia and extremism, the researchers developed an ethnic-conflict monitoring in the framework of the international project “Dialogue Partnership as a Factor of Stability and Integration” (“Bridge between East and West”) and the program “Youth of Polyethnic Regions: Views, Attitudes, Values” (the author is the founder and the head of the project and the program). The monitoring has been conducted for 29 years in the form of generational studies that aim to reveal the development of the youth ethnic consciousness in different regions, and to ensure a timely influence in order to reduce conflict potential and to support the culture of tolerance.