Youth as a subject of historical memory functioning

The article is aimed at solving the problem of studying social subjects of historical memory functioning. The subject of analysis is the subjectivity of high school and college students. Based on the use of the theory of socialization and the concept of subjectivity, the article scientifically substantiates the provision about students as a specific and at the same time the main subject of historical memory functioning. At the theoretical level of analysis the characteristics of subjectivity of high schoolers and students, as well as the factors influencing the process of its formation, manifestation and development are determined. The article offers a sociological assessment of high school students’ subjectivity in the context of considering its manifestation at different stages of historical memory functioning, on the one hand, and on the other hand, taking into account all its characteristics. The author pays particular attention to the subjectivity indicators of high school and college students - the “ability” and “readiness” of students to preserve, reproduce and transmit historical memory. According to the author, these indicators are determined not only by the amount of historical information available to students, but also by the “specific situation”, “conditions of the social environment” established by the social institution.