The Quest for an Ideal Youth in Putin's Russia I

Over more than half a decade, the so-called Democratic Antifascist Youth Movement Nashi dominated state-sponsored youth politics in Russia. It communicated demands from official discourse to a young audience and formed part and parcel of the “Putinist” project of political stabilization. Nashi emphasized the importance of a powerful state, economic strength and Russian unity against domestic and external enemies threatening the country. Moreover, an idealized narrative of the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany of 1941-1945 served as a template for the current situation in Russia. Nashi mobilized young Russians through its emotional appeal, skillful use of symbolic politics and the promise for professional self-realization. Nonetheless, the movement’s long-term impact remained limited – above all, because of its own internal contradictions.

This volume features three case studies that illustrate the interplay between the politics of history, security and modernization. They cover the foundation of Nashi in 2005, the movement’s role during the 2007 conflict with Estonia over the “Bronze Soldier,” and the International Youth Forum, organized by the Russian government and Nashi at Lake Seliger in summer 2010. Through the analysis of official publications, internal documents, interviews and participant observation, this book furthers a deeper understanding of state-sponsored youth politics in early 21st century Russia.