Science. Culture. Society

Issue Overview — The Impact of Modernity on Youth Social Strategies.

The article examines the problem of the social contract implementation through the evaluations of future specialists in the field of state and municipal governance (SMU). The relevance of the study is determined by the need to analyze the conditions and tools that ensure the high-quality reproduction of the social contract in regional governance practices. The focus is on the evaluative positions of student youth as future governance actors, whose assessments reveal not only expectations from the state but also their potential to participate in transforming governance practices. The study uses data from a mass survey of SMU students from 14 regions of the Russian Federation, covering assessments of the implementation of the basic elements of the social contract, established practices, and systemic deficiencies in regional and municipal governance. The analysis is based on the conceptual foundations of the social contract outlined in the works of Zh. T. Toshchenko and the anthroposocietal approach by N. I. Lapin, in which the disparity in relations between authorities and citizens serves as an integral indicator of tension requiring constant readjustment of the governance system. The results of the analysis of assessments by students – future SMU specialists – show that, overall, respondents positively evaluate the implementation of the basic elements of the social contract, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare, spiritual and physical development. Positive evaluations were also given to practices of interaction between authorities and the population – consideration of public opinion, communication, and activity in solving problems. However, serious dysfunctions were also identified: 11 out of 14 analyzed deficiencies cause concern, including an excess of coordination procedures, formalism, authoritarian management style, and imitation of activity. A multistage analysis (χ², Pearson correlations) revealed latent associations between socio-demographic characteristics and the perception of governance practices, as well as negative correlations between dysfunctions and elements of the social contract. This confirms A. V. Tikhonov’s thesis on the necessity of fundamental scientific, including sociological and managerial, support for the processes of formation and implementation of the social contract.

The article is devoted to the study of volunteer activities among Russian youth as a special form of engagement and its role in the formation of human capital. The analysis is based on microdata from the 2024 Sample Survey of the Labour Force conducted by the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) and covers a representative subsample of the young population (aged 15–35). Analytical methods include mean‐comparison tests (Fisher’s and Student’s criteria) and stepwise logistic regression, aimed at estimating the influence of predictors on the probability of participation in four main forms of volunteering: fundraising, territory beautification, animal assistance, and social work. The key findings indicate that young volunteers constitute 4.3% of the total youth population in the country. Irregular and informal forms of participation prevail. Volunteering activity increases among older youth groups. The analysis supports the hypothesis of a shift in the functions of volunteering at different stages of socialization. Rural youth are more frequently involved in environmental improvement and animal assistance, while urban youth are more active in fundraising. Women are more likely to participate in social forms of volunteering, whereas men are more involved in fundraising. Flexible employment types among youth (remote or informal work) increase the likelihood of participation in fundraising, environmental, and animal-related activities. Secondary and vocational education are more commonly associated with participation in social and environmental projects, whereas higher education correlates more with fundraising. Empirical evidence does not support the hypothesis of a direct link between youth volunteerism and the accumulation of human capital. The article also highlights the limitations and barriers in research and social practices related to youth volunteering.

The study explores the influence of social patterns formed in visual novels on the communicative practices of youth. Based on the analysis of semi-structured interviews with players (N=8), the mechanisms of constructing in-game identity and their connection to real-world practices are revealed. The data demonstrate three key strategies for character selection: self-representation (striving for visual and characterological alignment with oneself), aesthetic experimentation (creating an idealized "self"), and narrative immersion (subordinating the character’s image to the setting’s logic). Players project personal values onto in-game choices, yet the transfer of these models into reality is limited due to the perceived artificiality of the game space. Dominant interaction patterns (focus on a single romantic favorite, instrumental friendships, ignoring secondary characters) reflect the pragmatism and selectivity characteristic of modern social interactions. At the same time, games act as a "simulator" for role-testing, allowing players to experiment with aggression, altruism, or impulsivity without real-world consequences. The primary impact of visual novels manifests through self-reflection (analyzing discrepancies between the "game self" and the real self) and cultural horizon expansion (studying mythology, history). Social activity is indirectly stimulated, primarily through plots related to university life. A conflict is identified between players’ demand for inclusivity (e.g., realistic body representation) and commercial templates reproducing beauty stereotypes. The results highlight the potential of visual novels as tools for digital socialization, particularly for youth, and the need to develop mechanics that overcome normative limitations. The study contributes to understanding hybrid forms of digital socialization amid the growing popularity of narrative-driven games.

The article examines promising areas of research in historical sociology that expand its scope. At present, particular importance is attached to studying the interconnection between the present, the past, and the future. We live in an era of change unfolding more dynamically than before; however, these changes do not emerge out of nowhere – their origins lie in past trends that shaped the trajectory of historical transformations. Simultaneously, new phenomena and processes are emerging in the present, capable of significantly influencing the shape of the future, thereby increasing the demand for sociological research that integrates the past, present, and future into a single temporal continuum. Such research naturally finds its place within the framework of historical sociology – a discipline that has undergone significant evolution, thoroughly examined in the works of both foreign and domestic scholars. Therefore, based on existing scholarly contributions and an analysis of the current situation, this article places primary emphasis on promising directions for the development of historical sociology aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of our time. The purpose of this article is to identify new problems and tasks facing historical sociology that have become particularly relevant under contemporary conditions – the resolution of which is essential for the sustainable development of Russian society. Based on the analysis conducted, the article formulates the key problem areas of emerging research directions in historical sociology that require further elaboration. One such promising direction may be the study of the state and dynamics of public memory of the past.

In the context of the transformation of the institute of education, the need for qualified teachers is increasing. Young teachers are a resource for developing the education system and achieving optimal quality of education. The importance of professional strategies of young teachers is increasing in the conditions of the introduction of professional standards and professional development mechanisms. Therefore, the purpose of the work was to identify the conditions for the formation of strategies and their assessment. Professional strategies are based on personal attitudes and determine the effectiveness of a teacher's professional activity. An important influence on professional development is exerted by a high level of uncertainty in educational outcomes, the protracted nature of modernization, the presence of normative and value phenomena, and the level of subjectivity of a young teacher in decision-making in the field of professional and personal development. Several types of professional strategies of young teachers have been identified: active and passive, adaptive and conflict, innovative and conservative strategies. The choice of strategy is determined by the current working conditions and depends on the participation of the professional community in the development of a young teacher. The author concludes that it is necessary to purposefully manage the formation of professional strategies. The revival of mentoring and the creation of a support system for young teachers in educational organizations are of great importance in this regard.

This study examines university students’ reproductive intentions and their relationship with perceptions of employer family support policies. Its relevance stems from current demographic challenges such as declining birth rates and population aging, along with the need to implement state initiatives aimed at supporting families. Students are considered a key group whose reproductive decisions will determine future demographic trends over the next few decades. Based on sociological survey data (2024; Northwestern, Siberian, and Ural Federal Districts; n=2550), it was found that 16% of students plan to have three or more children, while expecting employers to provide comprehensive family support measures. A statistically significant association was found between reproductive intentions and demand for employer-provided family support. Two possible explanations for this relationship are proposed: traditional (corporate support as a condition for realizing existing intentions — i.e., having the number of children they plan for) and innovative (employer measures as a factor that may shift intentions toward larger family sizes). The findings emphasize the need to enhance young people’s awareness of employer family support initiatives through educational campaigns, institutionalization of corporate social responsibility ratings, and fostering collaboration among government, universities and employers. This research contributes to the development of demographic policies aimed at bridging the gap between reproductive intentions and the opportunities to realize them.

Editorial Board of the journal "Science. Culture. Society" and the staff of the Institute of Socio-Political Research of FCTAS RAS congratulate Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Mikhail Fyodorovich Chernysh on his 70th birthday.