LIFE TRAJECTORIES OF URBAN YOUTH IN RUSSIA AND ABROAD

Abstract

The article examines the specific life trajectories of urban youth in Russia and abroad. Drawing on a number of social studies, the author identifies key trends in the maturation of contemporary urban youth: an extended transition from adolescence to adulthood, greater freedom to choose one's life path, destandardization and nonlinearity of life trajectories, and a focus on obtaining higher education. It is demonstrated that patterns of maturation in the postmodern era are influenced by specific regional and sociocultural living conditions. Russians living in the capital and large cities typically exhibit a maturation pattern similar to the pan-European one. The maturation process for residents of small towns has its own unique characteristics. Attention is paid to the social and personal resources that contribute to achieving success, new concepts that complement the theory of social capital are explored, and alternative models of success in Russian society and abroad are analyzed. The author proposes to consider Russian cities as a sociocultural phenomenon that contributes to the formation of a special system of values, views, and behavioral attitudes. This often allows us to talk about a unique value profile of the youth living in a particular city.