Dynamic factors influencing the formation of Russia's image in the perception of German youth

The article examines the formation of Russia's external image among the student youth of contemporary Germany. It focuses on the perception of Russia through ten factors, including political and economic aspects, the dialogue of science and culture, historical and socio-cultural contexts, the role of resources, technological cooperation, and others. Special attention is given to the dynamics of perception from the 1990s to the present day, revealing changes in Russia's image linked to historical and social events. The study uniquely compares objective factors shaping the country's image with subjective, personally significant aspects of perception identified among students of German-speaking universities studying the Russian language and Russian history. To achieve the research objectives, methods such as surveys, ranking, analysis, synthesis, and scientific generalization were employed. The survey targeted students of German-speaking universities specializing in Russian language and history to uncover both objective and subjective factors influencing Russia's image. The scientific novelty lies in developing a periodization of changing attitudes toward Russia in the West, based on external and internal events in the country and globally. For the first time, the perception of Russia's image is analyzed dynamically, combining objective factors with subjective aspects significant to students. The results highlight a paradigm shift in perception, shaping a new image of Russia. The study concludes that, despite challenges, there is significant potential to strengthen Russia's positive image, fostering long-term relations between Russia and Germany. This research holds both practical and theoretical significance, offering new perspectives for studying intercultural interactions.

image of Russia, external image, dynamic image, socio-cultural, political factors, economic factors, youth, modeling, Historical context, perception