Modern youth organizations in Russia: general information

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Children's and youth movements in Russia appeared in the early 20th century. The first of these organizations are Scout and Orthodox. However, their role was lost after the revolution of 1917. After all, the dominant position in the life of society was occupied by the ideology of Marxism-Leninism. And they began to use it to educate young people.

The decline of associations that brought together young people came in our country simultaneously with the collapse of the USSR. However, since 2000, public organizations, political parties and the state began to pay attention to the issues of working with the younger generation again. The list of youth organizations in Russia was significantly expanded in 2005. This year was a record year for the emergence of such associations in the country. Today, much attention is paid to the development of youth organizations in Russia. The younger generation strive to attract everyone. This is both left and right, and United Russia, and the Kremlin. Moreover, analysts note the fact that competition in the market of youth organizations and associations in Russia today has sharply tightened. Thiscontributed to the "color" revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia. Indeed, in these countries, it is the youth that has become the main striking force of the street movement. But at the same time, the younger generation for the most part continues to be apolitical. Therein lies the biggest problem of his mobilization.

The list of youth organizations in Russia today includes more than 427 thousand different children's and youth associations. In what directions are their activities carried out? Let's try to understand this issue.

Classification

All modern youth organizations in Russia, taking into account their attitude to politics, can be divided into 4 groups.

Among them:

Apolitical. The activity of such organizations is politically indifferent. This includes interest groups, sports and creative organizations.
Ideological. The leaders and leaders of these youth organizations in Russia do not mention any relation to politics. Sometimes they even reject the very possibility of the younger generation participating in this direction. Nevertheless, the program documents of these organizations contain some ideological provisions relating, for example, to the realization of the interests and protection of the rights of youth, the civic formation of a person in order to develop the spiritual, intellectual and physical potential of young people. Such organizations, in particular, include search and civil-patriotic associations.
Political. These youth organizations in Russia are createdwith various political associations. Moreover, they operate within strictly defined ideological frameworks. Specific parties are vitally interested in such youth political organizations in Russia. After all, this allows them to educate supporters and future members for themselves from childhood and adolescence. At the same time, youth organizations use the party as their functional niche.
Political and educational. These associations were created in order to train representatives of the political elite of the country. Such formations are not guided by any specific doctrine of a particular party, being engaged in education, as well as internships for young men and teenagers in state structures (this includes, for example, work as voluntary assistants to deputies).

Based on the degree of autonomy, all youth organizations in Russia are divided into those created on the initiative of certain individuals. Among them are the following:

children and youth (managed by them);
adults (acting with their participation);
public structures or the state involved in the leadership.

Classify youth groups and organizations in Russia and in relation to public values. Based on this principle, asocial and prosocial associations are distinguished.

According to the presence of formal registration, there are associations:

informal;
unregistered, but operating under the auspices or on the basis of official structures (for example, school organizations);
officially registered.

Youth organizations in Russia are also divided according to their priority goals. So, unions are distinguished:

offering youth a certain value system (scouts, pioneers);
personal development;
organizing the relationship of youth with society, for example, protecting their rights;
providing services (leisure clubs, etc.) to those who are members.

The youth public organizations of Russia are divided according to the nature of their socialization. In this direction, associations are:

team-oriented (pioneer organization, etc.);
with a social-individual orientation (scouts, etc.);
focused on creating the necessary conditions conducive to the individual development of the individual (creative unions).

Youth organizations are divided according to the content of their activities. Among them are the following associations:

organizing social creativity, that is, constructing an environment for acquiring social interaction skills;
carrying out professional training, associated with public structures, forming among young people a positive attitude towards their state, having a cultural character, focusing on a he althy lifestyle.

On ideological grounds they distinguish:

political youth organizations of Russia;
near-political (not trying to proclaim political goals, but still pursuingthem);
conditionally non-ideological.
religious are secular non-political associations with their own value system.

Based on the variety of areas and activities, youth organizations can be divided into:

multi-profile;
profile.

Russian Youth Union

This organization was one of the first created in the modern history of the state. This movement arose on May 31, 1990 on the basis of a pre-existing Komsomol organization. It was then that the new association officially declared its independence from the central governing body of the Komsomol Central Committee.

RSM is one of the largest non-political, non-profit and non-governmental youth organizations in Russia. To date, it includes 77 regional offices, whose members are more than 150 thousand people. At the same time, RSM conducts annual programs. Up to 4 million people take part in them.

RSM implements more than 20 all-Russian, as well as over 200 interregional projects and programs for the younger generation. The most priority areas of its work are developing and educational, patriotic and professional, leisure, sports and cultural activities. RSM helps young people in finding their place in life, in the possibility of self-realization and career advancement. This is the stated purpose of this association.

Politicalyouth organizations

The stratum of the generation, whose age has not reached 30 years old, takes part in such associations. The activities of Russian youth organizations in this direction in certain situations contribute to influencing the institutions of the state and the authorities. In this case, such associations perform the functions of pressure groups and interest groups. And indeed it is. Indeed, all over the world it is impossible to find a single political force that would not cultivate its values and ideals in the younger generation. This allows her to persist by constantly updating her ranks.

A feature of Russian youth political organizations is that they see their main goal not only as defending the needs and specific interests of young people as a separate social group. They also have a desire to actively participate in the political life of the state, just like adult citizens. Such organizations contribute to the active inclusion of young people in power. At the same time, they form in the youth the initial skills that allow them to ensure effective political participation in the life of the country in the future. Let's take a closer look at some of these organizations.

AKM ("Vanguard of the Red Youth")

This political organization was established in 1996. It was formed under the wing of Labor Russia, headed by Viktor Anpilov. But at the beginning of 2004 there was a conflict, as a result of which AKM continued its work on its own.

This youth organization focuses on direct action and vibrant street action. The AKM program indicates the commitment of this association to the ideals of socialism, but at the same time the issues of Marxist theory are not dominant for it.

The organization is a member of the Headquarters of Protest Actions and a member of the left front. To date, there are several hundred activists in its composition. The most notable branches are those located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Syzran, Novosibirsk.

Ours

This movement is considered the main youth pro-government street force. The Nashi association is anti-orange, anti-fascist and pro-presidential. The main goal of such a movement is to preserve the existing system, in which only a soft replacement of the ruling elite should be made.

The main targets of Nashi are "fascists" and liberals, that is, all those who are ready to take to the streets to put pressure on the authorities. This is exactly what happened in Ukraine and Georgia. The youth movement "Nashi" is an aggressive force in the fight against destructive trends. At the same time, it is ready to use the most severe methods of struggle.

It is worth noting that the demonstration of aggression is characteristic of many youth associations. And this is already visible in the title of "Nashi". That is, the presence of "not ours" is implied here. They are, in fact, "enemies".

The creation of the Nashi movement has become the strongest "offer" of all youth associations existing on the market. It currently includesalmost 100 thousand members. At the same time, the main emphasis in the process of attracting young people here is on providing opportunities for self-realization, as well as for building a career and gaining access to ways to advance and other resources.

The Nashi movement is preparing professional managers who should replace the current ruling elite. Representatives of this association oppose bureaucrats, and also fully support the political leadership of the country. The participants in the movement understand that they will not be able to achieve career growth with a change in power.

Young Guard

Youth political organizations are active builders of the new Russia. And this is confirmed by the activities of the Young Guard movement. It has some distancing from the party, offers its members career growth, promotes patriotism and the anti-orange principle.

In its spirit, the Young Guard organization is similar to the Nashi movement. On the street, however, its members operate with more moderate methods. In addition, if Nashi was created for the specific tasks of the Kremlin, which wants to prevent young people from participating in the opposition, then Young Guard is a youth organization of United Russia. It is on her interests and ideals that all her actions are oriented. The task of the youth organization "United Russia" is to support it during the pre-election struggle, as well as during the adoption of certain decisions within the walls of the State Duma.

Nationalist-racist organizations

Operate on the territory of Russia and youthextremist organizations. One of them are nationalist-racist associations. These include, first of all, the movements of skinheads. This is a radical youth association, whose history began in the late 60s of the 20th century in England. It was a community of working youth, whose representatives advocated the prohibition of the use of cheap labor from third countries.

This movement came to Russia in the early 1990s. Moreover, it has received its greatest distribution in the largest cities of the country, namely in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk, Tomsk and Voronezh, Vladivostok and Yaroslavl.

In translation from English, the word "skinhead" means "skinhead". It is to this image that most members of this movement aspire, leaving aside any political motives. Skinheads prefer military style, acquiring military boots, camouflage, short bomber jackets and specific scarves.

Despite the fact that the "skinheads" do not have a single coordinating center, they cause concern due to their merging with the criminal environment. The fact is that some of the leaders of skinhead groups have a criminal past and adhere to thieves' traditions.

There are several directions in this movement. However, the most dangerous of them are NS skinheads. The activities of these extremist youth organizations in modern Russia are characterized by extreme racism and anti-Semitism. Representatives of this movement oppose mixed marriages, immigration, andare outright xenophobes. Most often, African Americans and Jews, Gypsies and Chinese, Azerbaijanis, Armenians and Tajiks suffer from them. Often attacked by "skinheads" and the homeless.

Russian national unity

This political extremist organization is quite active in Russia. RNE aims to change the constitutional order of the country.

Activation of the activities of this large right-wing radical organization today is noted in a number of regions and cities of Russia. Representatives of the RNU distribute materials that popularize the ideas of this party, urging young people to join it. In addition, in some regions, RNU supporters are carrying out work directly aimed at inciting ethnic hatred.

Informal associations

According to the way young people spend their time, such organizations are divided into sports and music fans, rockers, metalheads, bikers, amateurs, street racers, etc. All of them are united by the inability to find themselves in any more worthy occupation. According to their social position, these organizations are one of the forms of political and social activity.

Very dangerous informal youth organizations in Russia are founded by football fans. They harm society with their madness and sheer desperation. Such youth organizations do not have a clear structure. As a rule, they include small groups, which are characterized by a constant change of leader.

There are also groups united by their way of life. These are “systemists”, for whose members the main thing is their communication, as well as such declared values as love and peace. Their life is hidden from prying eyes.

Members of such organizations are considered by many to be loafers. After all, they do not have a permanent place of residence, and they do not work, looking for highs and drugs. However, this does not apply to all representatives of this movement. Some of them support the idea of we alth, have families and work. They are united with each other by the search for such ways of being that would not bring with them social upheavals, economic problems and constant troubles.

Religious Organizations

Today, there has been an increase in the activity of some associations of believers. Their main danger lies in the cultivation of religious fanaticism based on perverted spiritual ideas. Such activity, as a rule, is associated with causing harm to citizens, violence against them, as well as with the commission of other illegal acts. Such organizations carefully camouflage the religious doctrines they preach, while allowing the use of blackmail, threats and violence if they are aimed at benefiting the association.

There are similar youth extremist organizations in Russia, in Europe and in many other countries of the world. Particularly dangerous at the present time are supporters of such a current of Islam as Wahhabism. Its ideologists and leaders consider work with youth to be one of the main directions of their activity. On the territory of somesubjects of Russia even centers function. In them, members of international extremist and terrorist organizations conduct training in a radical religious direction, recruit citizens and involve them in illegal formations. Similar work is carried out in the camps and centers of Islamic youth.

Another religious movement, in the ranks of which a large number of young people are involved, are Satanists. The largest associations in this direction are:

International Luciferist Association;
church of satan;
Black Angel;
Green Order;
cult of Pallas Athena;
Goths;
cult of Isis.

Representatives of the above movements are socially dangerous. They are responsible for acts of ritual abuse. Such associations are considered especially dangerous for young people, as they negatively affect their fragile psyche.

Goths are an example of this. This movement was born on the wave of post-punk in the late 70s of the last century. The Gothic subculture is heterogeneous and very diverse. Common features that are characteristic of all its representatives are a gloomy image, showing interest in mysticism, addiction to horror films, as well as similar music and literature.

Goths prefer to idealize death, but they love to live, but only do it with anguish. The main essence of their ideology is the savoring of suffering and pain. A real goth doesn't need positivity. He loves to revel in his own misfortune, imagined or real.