Contents

Krystyna Szafraniec Introduction.................................................................................................................... 9 

Chapter 1 Jaroslaw Domalewski, Pawet Szymborski in cooperation with Zoltan Berenyi, Alexandre Gasparishvili, Zenija Kruzmetra, Karin Kurz, Sorin Mitulescu, Nguyen An Ha, Lachezar Nyagolov and Luo Wanchun Structural dimensions of the political system transformation.......................... 27

1.1. The multiplicity of transformations or the transformation of multiplicity?        29
1.2 How the New Order was established........................................................ 31
1.3. Between shock therapy and procedural changes ................................... 34
1.4     Economic transformation: dictates of neoliberalism............................. 41
1.5     The structural dimensions of transformational changes...................... 48  
1.6.  The demographic background of transformational transitions........... 51
1.7.External and internal migrations as an element of transformational changes        63
1.8 Conclusions................................................................................................... 71  

Chapter 2 Krystyna Szafraniec in cooperation with Oana Christiana Iftode, Lana Janmere, Bernadette Jonda, Istvdn Murdnyi, Nguyen An Ha, Kristina Petkova, Ekaterina S. Popova and Zhu Xinmei Socialisation contexts and life orientations of the youth.................................... 75

2.1.    Why the socialisation perspective?.......................................................... 75
2.2.    The new logics of constructing a local socio-cultural space.................. 77
2.3.    Postmodernity and global culture as an unavoidable context............. 81
2.4.    Messages sent by the main socialisation agendas ................................. 86  

2.4.1.    Market and the media..................................................................... 86
2.4.2.    The State and public space............................................................. 88
2.4.3.    Religions and churches................................................................... 91
2.4.4.    School............................................................................................. ...94
2.4.5.    Family............................................................................................... 96                  
2.4.6. Peers and new media...................................................... 98

2.5.    Young people: new challenges and life orientations.......................... 101
2.6.    Conclusions............................................................................................... 109

Chapter 3 Krzysztof Wasielewski in cooperation with Zoltan Berenyi Petya Ilieva-Trichkova, Lana ]anmerey David L. Konstantinovskiy Karin Kurzy Sorin Mitulescuy Tran Thi PhuongHoa and Zhu Xinmei Education: functions and meaning during the transformation of the political system.............................................................................................. 113

Methodological remarks................................................................................. 115
3.1.   Changes in the education system: orientations and consequences.... 116

3.1.1.    Changes in the philosophy of education................................... 116
3.1.2.    Education spending...................................................................... 120
3.1.3.    Changes in the level of education and its perception............. 125         

3.2. Changes in the mainstream education system............................. 133

3.2.1.    Pre-school education.................................................................... 133
3.2.2.    School: schooling rates and youth attitudes............................. 136
3.2.3 Higher education ............................................................................ 142

3.3.    Quality of education and student competencies................................. 149
3.4.    Conclusions............................................................................................... 159 

Chapter 4 Krystyna Szafraniec, Pawel Szymborski in cooperation with Galina Cherednichenkoy Ana-Maria Daluy Nguyen Hong Quang Ginta Kronbergay Karin Kurzy Florian Siposy Rumiana Stoilova and Zhu Xinmei Reaching adulthood: work, privacy arrangements and living standards... 161

4.1. Employment and entering the labour market ............................................... 161

4.1.1.     Preparations and barriers: the specificity of the post-communist countries........................................................... 162
4.1.2.     Expectations concerning employment...................................... 170
4.1.3.     Transition from education to employment.............................. 173
4.1.4.     Economic activity and employment.......................................... 174
4.1.5.     Unemployment and occupational inactivity............................ 177
4.1.6.     The temporary employment market......................................... 182
4.1.7.     Sectors and conditions of employment..................................... 185
4.1.8.     Status of the labour market: risks and dangers........................ 190  

4.2. Family and living arrangements............................................................ 192

4.2.1.    Leaving a family home................................................................ 192
4.2.2.    Marital status and living arrangements................................... 196
4.2.3.    Fertility, women

4.3 Standard and quality of living................................................................. 207
4.4. Conclusions................................................................................................ 218  

Chapter 5 Krystyna Szafraniec, Marcin Wernerowicz in cooperation with Dina Bite, DangMinh BvLc, Bernadette Jonda, Nadejda Daskalova, Lyudmila Meshkova, Istvdn Murdnyi, Ancuta Plaesu and Zhang Ruifang The young in the public sphere............................................................................. 221

5.1.  Political changes in countries which had experienced communism.............................................................................................. 222

5.1.1.    Main axis of changes in the political system............................ 222
5.1.2.    Meanders of the political transformations: analytical and interpretation problems...................................................... 224
5.1.3.    Subjective interpretations and objective measures of democracy.................................................................................. 227

5.2.  From authoritarianism to democracy................................................... 233

5.2.1.    Totalitarianism and communism in the awarenessof the youth   235
5.2.2.    Political socialisation and lack of citizenship education......... 237
5.2.3.    Emotional attitudes towards the old and the new order........ 240

5.3.  Preferences concerning the social order............................................... 246

5.3.1..Preferences concerning political solutions: democracy or strong leadership?            246
5.3.2.    How much should the state intervene in the economy?........ 249
5.3.3.    Civil/individual rights and community rights........................ 252
5.3.4.    A materialist or post-materialist model of society?................ 253

5.4.  Civic engagement of young people....................................................... 255

5.4.1.    Interest in politics and feeling of political impact................... 255
5.4.2.    Trust towards the institutions and political elites.................. 261

5.5.  Civic behaviour and style of the presence in the public sphere........ 264

5.1.1.The minimum citizen: indexes of participation in the elections      265
5.5.2.    Alternative forms: petitions, protests and demonstrations... 268                
5.5.3. Alternative forms: the Internet.................................... 272

5.6. Conclusions................................................................................................ 277  

Chapter 6 Krystyna Szafraniec, Jaroslaw Domalewski, Pawel Szymborski and Krzysztof Wasielewski in cooperation with Dina Bite, Pepka Boyadjieva, Sonia Catrina, Galina Cherednichenko, Bernadette Jonda, Nguyen An Ha, Eleonora Shanyi and Zhu Xinmei Dividing lines, new challenges and threats to social cohesion ...................... 279

6.1.   Divisions and social inequalities within the life space of the youth and amongst the youth..................................................... 280

6.1.1.    The rich and the poor: the most grievous division................. 280
6.1.2.    Divisions between the countryside and the cities ................... 286
6.1.3.    Ethnic and regional divisions..................................................... 294
6.1.4.    Inequality in education................................................................ 300  

6.2.    Perception of the future and social challenges .................................... 309
6.3.    Mental characteristics of the youth........................................................ 311
6.4.    A turn to the right? ............................................................................... 318
6.5.    What about the protests and contestation by young people?............ 329
6.6.    Conclusions............................................................................................... 334  

Krystyna Szafraniec Conclusion.................................................................................................................. 337  

References................................................................................................................... 345

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