Russian Students About the Great Patriotic War: Results of the Federal Research of the Russian Society of Sociologists (2005–2025)

This article is devoted to the study of the dynamics of historical memory among Russian students regarding the Great Patriotic War. It is based on the results of five waves of the monitoring project “Students about the Great Patriotic War,” a federal study conducted by the Russian Society of Sociologists (2005–2025). The sample for the latest wave included 19,236 students from 82 universities across all federal districts. The article outlines the key milestones in the development of the monitoring methodology, critically evaluates its features, and analyzes empirical data characterizing the transformation of Russian student youth’s perceptions of the Great Patriotic War, as well as changes in attitudes and specific actions associated with this significant historical event for all Russians. The study demonstrates that understanding historical memory as a form of capital endows it not only with social meaning and significance, but also instills a sense of utility in its bearers, actualizing past experiences and expanding the possibilities for their application in the present and future. Under the influence of patriotic education, students’ interest in the Great Patriotic War has been increasing in recent years. For a growing number of students, the heroism and dedication of past generations are becoming exemplary. At the same time, the “memory deficit” and distortions that emerged at the beginning of the post-Soviet period are being overcome only very slowly.