Memory of the Great Patriotic War in the Far East regions: Commemorative Practices of Student Youth

The paper examines the commemorative practices of students at three Far Eastern universities related to the memory of the Great Patriotic War. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the concepts of collective and historical memory (M. Halbwachs, P. Nora, J. Assmann), cultural and symbolic capital (P. Bourdieu), cultural trauma (P. Sztompka), commemoration (J. Gillis), and civilisational analysis (N. S. Rozov, B. N. Kuzyk, Yu. V. Yakovets). The empirical basis of the study is formed by the materials of a questionnaire survey of students studying at the Far Eastern Federal University (Vladivostok), North-Eastern Federal University named after M.K. Ammosov (Yakutsk), Buryat State University named after D. Banzarov (Ulan-Ude). The total sample size was 616 people. Our study focuses on the forms of representation of the Great Patriotic War in the commemorative practices of student youth. Overall, the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War among young people in the region is formed at the intersection of state policy, public initiatives, and everyday forms of preserving historical memory. The results of the study also showed that processes of historical memory transformation are taking place in the public consciousness of Far Eastern students, expressed in a gradual shift from collective and institutional forms of commemoration to individualised and mediated practices. Historical memory of the Great Patriotic War for university students in the Far East continues to be an important element in the formation of civic identity, but is characterised by fragmentation and a decrease in personal involvement in the events of the military past. An analysis of sociocultural practices surrounding Victory Day celebrations revealed a diversity of youth participation in commemorative events. Individualised forms of May 9th celebrations are becoming increasingly widespread. At the same time, interest in mass memorial events remains strong. The memory of the Great Patriotic War among students at Far Eastern universities is a complex, multi-layered phenomenon, intertwining institutional, media, and family channels of communication. The resulting trend of change points to a gradual weakening of official forms of commemorative practices, necessitating increased attention to youth audiences within educational, informational, and cultural policies to preserve and promote historical memory as a crucial resource for Russian identity and civic consolidation.