Youth in Ukraine:

Cynicism and Apathy vs. Extremist Moods

In current Ukraine the reaction of youth to the anomia and helplessness can be characterized by the two major types of behaviour - the "normative" and "non-normative". The non-normative mode of behaviour is characterized by the cynicism and apathy on one hand and extremist moods on the other


By ANNA TKACH
from Kiev, UKRAINE


In 1991 Ukraine gained its independence and declared democracy in politics, the domination of the law and human rights in the life of the society and the market in economy as priorities in its political, social and economic development. These main principles were supported enthusiastically by approx. 80% of the population. But the declared objectives were not reflected and maintained by the laws and, logically, were not executed through the actions of politicians and political bodies, therefore they had not become the principles of the development of the society and, consequently, appeared to be out of the paradigm of the values, motives and norms regulating its life in general and lives of separate individuals in particular. The new values had not replaced the old ones which were quickly and consciously destroyed. Ukraine appeared in the situation of anomia.

Youth has always been considered the future of the country, the so-called "future in the present". It is also the peculiar litmus paper reacting quickly to the changes in the society. And in current Ukraine the reaction of youth to the anomia and helplessness can be characterized by the two major types of behaviour - the "normative" and "non-normative". The non-normative mode of behaviour is characterized by the cynicism and apathy on one hand and extremist moods on the other. The normative reaction is mainly represented in attempts to go back to the old norms and values (mostly conservative) and/or highly-nationalistic attitudes. I will venture to affirm that the non-normative type of reaction is more characteristic of eastern Ukraine , while the normative one is frequently met in the west of my country.

Accordingly the attitudes are different - youngs in the east show nihilism and highly-pessimistic approach while their peers in the west make a happy face either denying or preferring not to notice the economic-political stagnation the country seems to remain in. Frankly speaking my attitude to both trends is negative, because both make their bearers much vulnerable to manipulation and breed aggression, ignorance and low tolerance to the others. (Although I am one of the opponents of the division of the country in the "western" and "eastern" parts but I still have to use it because being a teacher at the university and journalist I cannot but notice differences in mentality and general mind-set of the representatives of these regions.).

True, nowadays in Ukraine exist quite a few youth organizations of the international (AEGEE, EYP, etc.), intra-ukrainian (Plast, Orljata) and local (numerous NGOs, student parliaments, etc.) scales. And they do have many people involved but the Ukrainian youth of nowadays remains mostly either socially and politically inert or providing/supporting nationalistic policies. The difference between being politically active and nationalistic, between being a patriot and intolerance and aggressive/disrespective attitude to other nations, countries and nationalities is somehow getting really confused. Which also proves the lack of stability and sound education and breeds necessity of creation of some reference point, of some guiding line which would substitute the absence of external and internal security. The role of such leading lights is often laid upon the above mentioned nihilistic/cynical or nationalistic/nostalgic ideas.

The main question is whether any contra-actions are necessary. Of course youth is considered to be a self-curing element on one hand and of course raising public awareness and improvement of the educational system are highly necessary. Each time I think of Plato's complaints on the disrespect of youth to the older generations and their ignorance I start asking myself whether the situation is the same (meaning whether the youth to which I myself belong is developing naturally) or whether this time it is the one carrying the genes of destruction, depression and stagnation?