Abstract: The relevance of the topic chosen by the authors is determined by the very fact of global changes in the established social order taking place in the world, which create serious risks for the "welfare state" formed in the West after the Second World War. There is a transformation of the basic principles of the modern welfare state – the principles of social solidarity and social justice, the external and internal conditions for the modern state to perform its social functions are becoming more complicated. The ongoing global social transformations fully affect Russian society, especially since it was Russia that acted as their catalyst. Their socio–economic consequences for Russia are ambiguous. The purpose of this work is to analyze the identification of priorities of social policy in modern Russia in conditions associated with both risks and new opportunities in the context of global social changes. The main methodological basis of the research is theoretical scientific methods and a systematic approach. The interdisciplinary nature of the research within the framework of the identified issues requires the involvement of both the results of sociological research and a significant amount of data from domestic and international economic statistics. It is emphasized that in the field of social policy, which is initially based on the principles of redistribution of resources through the budget system, there are no solutions that provide all Russians with prospects for economic and social well-being. Given the complexity of developing universal government solutions capable of ensuring the realization of the social interests of all population groups, in order to preserve the solidarity of Russians in conditions of instability and resource constraints, it is necessary to identify the right priorities of social policy. Accordingly, the authors analyzed the main problems and prospects in the implementation of the main priorities of the social policy of the modern Russian state: overcoming inequality and poverty, support for the participants of the SVO and their families, family and demographic policy. The authors conclude that when developing and implementing social measures, the Russian state should avoid inflating "bubbles" of social obligations. In addition, it is necessary to keep in mind the limited budget resources and avoid "life on loan". Consequently, the authors substantiate the position on the need to implement the principles of rationality, targeting, and orientation towards solving the most acute social problems of modern Russian society in conditions of limited resources.

Keywords: liberalization, social cohesion, social solidarity, social justice, socio-economic inequality, social policy, welfare state, targeted social support, Social change, categorical social support

Abstract: This article reviews volunteering as one of the forms of participation of youth in making socially important decisions. Volunteering forms the culture of engagement in social life that contributes to consolidation of civil initiatives and democratic values. Teenagers and youth can also participate in improvement of their living conditions and defend their interests via volunteer activity. The key research question is associated with seeking the ways by teenagers and youth to express their opinion through volunteering, and consideration of that opinion by the leaders of volunteer organizations. Group discussion served as the main method for obtaining empirical data; total of 5 group discussions with young people aged 16-18 were held. Roger Hart's Ladder of Children's Participation was applied in the course of this research. Alongside determination of the “level” of engagement of young volunteers as a ratio of personal initiatives and decisions of the adults organizers, the author determines the two lines of analysis – transformation of volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic and trends of volunteer activity in ten years from now. Group discussions with young people allowed concluding that volunteering, as any other activity organized by adults, indicates the lack of freedom for young people to show their initiatives and participate in making socially important decisions. Pseudo-participation is especially evident in school volunteering.

Keywords: Socially relevant decisions, youth, teenagers, right to participate, decision-making, ladder of participation, volunteering, volunteering trends, pandemic, school

Abstract: In examination of reason why people play videogames, multiple authors lean on the theory proposed by the Professor of Psychology Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – the concept of flow (flow state). The author is known for his research in the area of happiness, creativity and subjective wellbeing. The so-called “effect of immersion” is described by complete absorption and endeavor to success. Presence in the flow state is not limited by a specific sphere or process; it is applied to all fields of activity that an individual is involved in. The article provides a definition to the concept of “flow”, indicated the main conditions and characteristics of flow state, as well as explores the model of flow state. The relevance of studying motivation of computer games is reflected. Motivational qualities of the users within the framework of the “flow” concept are outlined. The author analyzes the case of a gamer who attempt to improve his skills in videogame, with consideration of results of the process depending on correlation “capabilities / complexity of the task”. The types of motivation of computer gamers are determined.

Keywords: eudaimonic experiences, flow, condition characteristics, computer games, player motivation, flow condition, inclusion effect, autotelism, Roger Caillois, eSports

Abstract: The goal of this research is the analysis of perception of the idea of patriotism as a social value (and its level of relevance) in public consciousness of the Russians representing different generation groups. The factual basis of the analysis contains the data obtained from sociological survey “Fathers and Sons: the conflict and relationship, continuity of generations”, arranged and implemented by L. G. Lebedeva in 2017. The object of research became the 438 respondents in Samara and Samara Region that represented various generation groups aged 18 and older – 46.1% males and 53.9% females. An important peculiarity of the targeted age groups of the respondents, selected for the questionnaire-based survey, is that they were chosen in accordance with the socio-historical factors that effected their entry into adulthood (at approximately 17-18 years of age). Among the qualities included into the term of “patriotism”, the respondents name the rational-abstract in its nature quality of “loving your Motherland”, along with the emotional-sensible qualities such as “pride for the Motherland”, “love for your city, town or home”; next come the practical qualities such as “civic activism”, “defense of the Motherland; lastly is the moral-ethical quality “sense of a citizen”. The problems constraining the civic activism (such as practical manifestation of patriotism) require attention, studying, and consideration in social policy of the state, as well as public awareness.

Keywords: human rights, social equality, social justice, individualism, collectivism, civil activity, social values, generations, patriotism, civicism

Abstract: The object of this research is the sport as a sociocultural phenomenon at the current stage of social development. In today’s world, the sport sphere is considered an autonomous part of social sphere, multifaceted sociocultural and political phenomenon. The object of this research is the specificity of modern sport, particularly the clarification of leading functions of sport activity in the Russian realities. Attention is focused on the differences between the concepts of “sport” and “non-sport”, “sport” and “physical culture”; understanding of sport in a narrow and broad sense; as well as legal framework of the physical and sport activity. The article applies the theoretical-methodological analysis, generalization of the scientific and educational materials, alongside system approach towards examination of interconditionality of sport and politics, positive and negative moments of their interaction. The scientific novelty consists in substantiation of studying sport as a historically established in form of special competitive activity and sport practice sociocultural phenomenon, which contributes to harmonious development of the natural and socially-transformative psychophysiological qualities of motion activity and ethical-moral characteristics of a person that define his sport activity.

Keywords: phenomenon, state regulation, policy, culture, society, competitive activity, physical culture, sport, social institute, functions

Abstract: The subject of this research is the determination of university students’ relation to the teaching of history, teaching quality, as well as assessment of the important historical events with respect to the object of national pride. The goal of this work consists in examination of the role of history teaching in formation of spiritual world of the students. The object of this research is the students of humanitarian and technical higher educational institutions of Moscow. Based on the acquired empirical data, the authors meticulously analyze the evaluation of the quality of history teaching in universities and schools, students ' attitudes toward the various historical events in the context of national pride, what are the sources of historical knowledge and with whom to discuss the problem of assessing the historical events. The article applies the method of sociological survey, involving 1,236 students of humanitarian and technical universities. The results demonstrated that the students of humanitarian and technical universities have high demand for obtaining knowledge and understanding of history. It is concluded that the teaching of history carries a positive impact upon the formation of historical consciousness and historical memory, as well as formation of personal culture, spiritual world of civic responsibility and patriotic feelings. More than 82% of respondents assess the quality of history teaching as satisfactory; 25.6% of respondents believe that the school quality of teaching of history is excellent; for comparison, only 15.6% of respondents consider such in university as excellent.

Keywords: survey, sociological research, higher education, spiritual world, national pride, historical consciousness, history, patriotism, history teaching, youth

Abstract:   It is a known fact the on October 29, 2015 Russia’s President has signed a decree on the establishment of the all-Russian public organization for children and young people “The Russian Schoolchildren Movement”. As the document claims, the purpose of creation of this organization consists in the “improvement of state policy in the area of upbringing of the growing generation and contribution into formation of personality based on the characteristic to Russian society system of values”. In fact, the Presidential decree completed the discussion on the necessity of restoration of the schoolchildren organization. Due to this fact, the experience of the mentoring activity of the Komsomol organizations, including the years of the early “thaw” is extremely relevant among children and teenagers. The authors examine the Komsomol as a sociocultural phenomenon, determine the factors of its versatile influence upon the students, as well as attempt to generalize the negative and positive experience. The authors used the documents and materials from the State Archive of Sociopolitical History of Tambov Oblast, which demonstrated that there were significant changes, a so-called breaking point, in mentoring work with the school students, aimed at meeting the demands of the young citizens of the country. The social life in many of the Komsomol organizations of the students became more interesting and diverse.  

Keywords: Mentorship , Upbringing, Orphanage, Thaw, Pioneers, Schoolchildren, Children, Komsomol, The Russian Schoolchildren Movement, Youth

Abstract: The object of this research is the social policy in Russia. Beginning with the establishment in absolutely new socioeconomic realities of the early 1990’s, Russia’s social policy is in the stage of continuous development, which is reflected in the variety of the federal programs, as well as social projects. The subject of this work is the determination of the relevant directions and trends in development of the regional social policy in the perception of its main constituents. The author thoroughly examines the work of new constituents of social policy, which allows decreasing burden of government as a general-accepted guarantor of the social support of citizens, and also finding new ways for solution of social problems. This work examines the work of government and institutions of civil society on the implementation of social policy, describing the main principles and motifs of their work. The results of the conducted research can serve as the basis for elaboration of proposition on modernization of the regional social policy, taking into account the most relevant issues, determined in the course of this work.

Keywords: Public private partnership, non-profit organizations, political parties, the business community, social support of citizens, youth policy, social politics, regional social programs, institutions of civil society, subjects of social policy

Abstract: This article looks at the intentions of the Komsomol and other Communist Party organizations with regards to the political education of young people after World War II, as well as the fruits of their labours. It shows that despite the restoration and development of an extensive system of political education, young men and women actually remained politically illiterate. There was practically no system of political education; in its place was essentially a system of ideological education which also created a semblance of the struggle for improvements in quality. The instructors' generally low levels of education and lack of cultural and wider political backgrounds, together with Party and Komsomol institutions ensuring that the delivery of the material to students would never go beyond the framework of unchallengeable dogmas, coexisted with exaggerated numbers of the reach of political education and formalism in the activities of the political study groups. Moreover, the constant appeal to patriotic feelings sharply increased the efficiency of the political education system in the same way as the schemes which mobilized young adults to undertake constructive activity. The article relies primarily on sources from the Tambov region.

Keywords: provinces, Komsomol, patriotism, ideological upbringing, ideology, political enlightenment, political education, creativity, youth, cosmopolitism