Trans-Baikal Cossacks as a Subject of Patriotic Education of Youth

Introduction. In modern conditions, patriotic education of young people is of particular importance, the implementation of which is possible using the potential of the Russian Cossacks. The Russian Cossacks have the necessary resources for the formation of youth patriotism, including the presence of their own ideology, ethnopsychological and ethno-cultural features, behavioral models, the system of patriotic education as part of the “Cossack pedagogy”. This potential of the Cossacks should be used in the modern social practice of patriotic education from the younger generation. The purpose of the article is based on the results of the analysis of public opinion in the Trans-Baikal Territory to investigate the attitude of the population to the Cossacks and its role in the patriotic education of the younger generation. Materials and Methods. The methodology of the study is presented by the theory of social identity of V. A. Tishkov, the pedagogical theory of patriotic education of V. V. Ivanov. Within the framework of the study, the attitude of the Trans-Baikal Territory residents to the Cossacks and the opinion about the potential of the Cossacks in the patriotic education of young people are characterized. The study was conducted in 2021–2022. A survey in the form of a questionnaire was used as the main method. 500 residents of the Trans-Baikal Territory were interviewed. The method of cluster (territorial) single-stage sampling was used in the study. Results. It is revealed that in the Trans-Baikal Territory, a positive attitude to the Cossacks, their traditions and values prevails. The results obtained in the course of the study indicate that today the process of revival of the Cossacks is supported in society. It is shown that the Cossacks play an important role in the patriotic education of young people. Discussion and Conclusion. The residents of the Trans-Baikal Territory recognize the value of using the patriotic traditions of the Cossacks and the need for the participation of the Cossacks in the patriotic education of young people. The results obtained can be used in the development of programs of patriotic, spiritual and moral education of the younger generation based on the traditional values of the Cossacks.