Socio-cultural characteristics of Lithuanian and Belarusian youth: comparative analysis

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Jaunimas; Vertybės; Sociokultūrinės struktūros; Youth; Values; Sociocultural structures; Baltarusija (Belarus).

ENOur comparative analysis suggests that the values of Lithuanian and Belarusian youth are quite contradictory in the context of globalization and consumerist society. On the one hand, increasing uncertainty about economic and social developments in a globalized world leads to the growing importance of such values as material and secure life, career, professionalism in the business etc. On the other hand, youth of Lithuania and Belarus regard parents and spouses very highly. That suggests that increasing uncertainty in employment and professional relations doesn't affect personal relationships. The biggest difference between Lithuanian and Belarusian youth is that the Lithuanian youth are socio-culturally more active, but also more individualistic. These findings have important implications for analysis of youth as socio-cultural subject with different traditional and modern values that coexist together. [Extract, p. 83]