Implementation of Russia's foreign policy strategic goals through the eyes of youth.

Today's Russia consistently stands for the national interest. Russia bases its foreign-policy activities on several priorities and strategic goals. These goals are to create favorable conditions for the country’s sustained development, to keep national security and to establish strong positions for Russia on the global stage. Today these areas of focus are implemented within a rapidly changing international environment that impacts all strata of Russian society. Therefore, it is essential not only to analyze the country’s strategic foreign policy goals at the doctrinal level and level of implemented foreign policy actions but also to study the attitudes of Russian citizens toward them, especially among young generation, who represent the future in in the present. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a sociological analysis of youth attitudes regarding the formulation and implementation of Russia’s basic foreign policy strategic goals and priorities in the context of ongoing international transformations. The paper makes analyzing official foreign policy documents of the Russian Federation and presents data from studies conducted between 2023 and 2025 among youth of Penza, Saratov and Tyumen. The analysis revealed that young generation unanimously recognize the primary necessity of ensuring Russia’s security and that of its citizens across various aspects of life. The need to protect the country’s territory youth is especially painful. According to the youth’s self-assessments, external threats, especially from NATO and other unfriendly nations, rank high on the list of national security risks. Although most of the youth believe that Russia should serve as an international guarantor of peace, they do not prioritize this goal above all else, instead favoring existential values. Survey data also reveal connections between certain foreign policy orientation among youth and specific demographic characteristics and individual social resources. The results provide a comprehensive overview of youth perspectives on Russia’s foreign policy goals and priorities, illustrate the level of support for the country’s international course, and inform youth policy and educational processes at higher education institutions.

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