The Socio-Political Image of Modern Russia in the Perceptions of Student Youth in the North Caucasus

Introduction. The significance of values inherent in the socio-political image of modern Russia is becoming increasingly relevant in light of the need for nationwide consolidation against the backdrop of growing hybrid threats and heightened international tensions. The consciousness of the younger generation reflects both general cultural trends characteristic of youth and the regional specifics of the North Caucasus. The purpose of this article is to identify generational commonalities and ethnocultural differences in the perception of the socio-political image of Russia by student youth in the North Caucasus. Materials and Methods. Socio-cultural and generational approaches served the theoretical and metho­dological basis. Empirical data were obtained through an online survey among students of North Caucasian universities (May-June 2024, n = 1,500, aged 18–24 years). The sample covered six North Caucasian regions: Stavropol, North Ossetia–Alania, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Chechnya and Ingushetia. Representativeness by gender, nationality and religion was ensured by observing quotas. Respondents' assessments were measured on a 5-point scale. Data processing was carried out in SPSS. To determine the influence of the ethno-confessional factor, ANOVA and post-hoc analysis were used. Results. The study revealed the prevalence of common perceptions and evaluative approaches to the image of Russia. According to most empirical indicators, no statistically significant differences were found in students' self-identification based on ethnic and religious affiliation. The similarity in perceptions of basic socio-political values and understanding of Russia's image among Orthodox Christians and Muslims can be explained by the common traditional foundations of Orthodox and Islamic identity among young people. Respondents' religious affiliation has a greater influence on their assessments than their nationality. The influence of religious self-identification on the choice of a particular model of the state and the nature of its relations with the individual and society was also revealed. The image of a state that ensures sovereignty, security, and the preservation of civilizational identity is of the greatest importance. At the same time, its attractiveness decreases among non-religious respondents. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study allow us to conclude that there is a prevailing generational community in the assessments of student youth of a number of values and socio-political foundations that determine the vector of the country's socio-cultural development. Young people focus on Russia's value-based civilizational identity. Studying how young people in the North Caucasus see Russia's social and political image will help form “assembly points” for Russian identity in this multi-ethnic region. Its practical significance lies in the introduction of new empirical material into scientific circulation: the assessments and perceptions of North Caucasian youth about the models and images of the future Russia. The results will be useful to specialists in the field of social, humanitarian, and identity studies in multinational regions. Research into ways and models of implementing the socio-political foundations of Russia's image that are attractive to Generation Z can also be conducted in other multi-ethnic macro-regions of the country.