The document discusses the impact of media on perceptions of youth work and youth issues in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. It first provides a brief history of youth work in the Soviet era from the 1920s to 1980s, including the use of youth organizations. It then explains how historical films and television have reconstructed symbols and influenced the construction of national identities by promoting patriotism and civic participation. Finally, it notes some common values among youth in the region today, such as a desire to work abroad, lack of trust in institutions, and uncertain futures.

1. Impact of media on perception
of youth work and youth
related issues
Eastern Europe and Caucasus
Yaryna Borenko,
Learning Mobility Conference 2011,
Budapest, 11-13.05.2011

2. History: youth work in soviet time
1920th – 1940th :
- inclusion in the system
- unification and
egalitarianism
- semi-military youth
organizations
- internationalism
- Elimination of informal
space

3. History: youth work in soviet time
1940th – 1950th:
- mythos of soviet war
heroes
- social inclusion of war
children
- latent tolerance of
religion and other
informal spaces
- development of
communist youth elite

4. History: youth work
in soviet time
1960th – 1980th:
- elimination of anti-
system phenomena
- Anti-Americanism
- socialistic work camps
- generation of 60th –
informal space

5. Media impact youth
(films, shows and TV)
Historical policy - memory and
reconstructions of symbols
Construction of identity – patriotism,
activism and attitudes
Youth values – common features for the
region

6. Historical policy
Memory and reconstructions of
symbols through film and TV
industry:
- Timurovtsy as prototype for
volunteering
- Pioneers as prototype for civic
participation
- “Non-formality” and prototype for
marginalization

7. Construction of identity
To be a patriot of own
country
Positive attitude to the
army
“Geopolitical
orientation”
Loyalty to the public
institutions

8. Youth values -
what is common for youth in region
Want to leave the country
for work (more than for
studying)
No trust to public
institutions
Acceptance of corruption
Not sure about the future
Perception of others on
friend-enemy scale