“Nostalgia Not for the Past but Nostalgia for the Present”: Post-Soviet Youth on USSR’s Collapse

. The article focuses on the perceptions of generation post-Soviet youth about collapse USSR. An attempt to analyse reasons for favourable and “nostalgic” attitude USSR part those who, due their age, have no experience Soviet life is made. It shown that, according mass surveys, attitudes towards depend age respondents: older generations predominantly perceive Union negatively, while among young people (especially in youngest cohort 18-24-year olds) number who are not upset exceeds regret it. dynamics public opinion this event been erratic recent years, strongly influenced by “Crimean effect”: during Crimean crisis – 2014, regretting rose sharply, but, years later, it has returned its previous level. data author’s study devoted problem perception transformations 90s general Russians given. conducted that people’s period Russian society mainly based clichés “wild” nineties replicated media. In assessments, often rely views parents (or other relatives) teachers. mythology events December 1991 internal distance from last decade XX century, as well poor knowledge realities noted. conclusion drawn some interest past stems dreams a prosperous just equal opportunities, which today’s Russia so far removed.