Patriotic self-identification of modern Russian youth

The article discusses the issue of self-identification of modern youth as patriots. This work is based on the analysis of data obtained from two projects implemented by a team of authors from the Faculty of Sociology of Samara University: "Identities and practices of consolidation of modern youth of the Samara region" (2023) and "Meanings and types of patriotism of modern youth: a regional aspect" (2024), as well as a secondary analysis of date of Public Opinion Foundation data and All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center. The peculiarities of self-identification by modern youth as patriots were determined by studying the place of patriotism in the system of traditional spiritual and moral values; characteristics of themselves as patriots of citizens, youth of Russia and students of Samara University; as well as the specifics of self-identification as patriots by students of Samara University, depending on some characteristics. It is revealed that patriotism is one of the most important traditional values of Russians. At the same time, the data obtained indicate that there are fewer young people than in the entire sample who consider themselves as an absolute patriots. Moreover, there are even fewer absolute patriots among the students of Samara University than among the youth of Russia. It is argued that it is necessary to strengthen the work of the agents whose activities are somehow related to youth and patriotic education especially among students.