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Q&A: The Generations in Eastern Europe
I have some associates on a team that are from a few Eastern European countries. They don’t feel like they fit the “American definition” of the generations. Do you have any information on the generations of other countries?
Thanks,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I don’t think that the characterization of generations in the U.S. extends around the world. Generations are shaped by the events that happened during an individual’s formative years (roughly ages 11-14+). The events that were occuring in Eastern Europe over the last half century were very different from the events in the United States during this same period.
I haven’t studied most of the Eastern European countries in detail, however, I’ve included (below) a short piece on the generations in Russia that illustrates some of the differences. I hope this helps.
Warmly,
Tammy
Russia
As World War II came to an end, Russia was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a strict socialist society under Stalin. Conditions in the 1940s and early 1950s were extremely difficult: starvation, forced labor and ethnic persecution. The generation shaped during these years was fatalistic, enduring, and hard-working. They developed a practical attitude and became savvy about affiliating with the “right†people, always cognizant of the dominant authority of the Communist Party. After Stalin death, Khrushchev assumed power and liberalized some policies.
“Khrushchev’s Thaw†continued into the 1960s, easing life slightly. Within the country, opportunities became available for the best and brightest. The generation shaped during the 1960s and 1970s developed a strong sense of competition—the system selected who would advance educationally and politically. They saw the escalation of the Cold War, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, Brezhnev’s investments to build the country’s military-industrial complex, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Soviet Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. This generation developed a sense of patriotism and pride at USSR’s leadership role on the world stage. The lingering scars from the trauma of the war made many women possessive mothers.
In the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, President Gorbachev brought political openness and economic reforms – glasnost and perestroika – to the country. Western relations improved, the Afghanistan occupation ended. In late 1991, Gorbachev dissolved the USSR and established the Commonwealth of Independent States. Yeltsin becomes president of newly formed Russian Republic and instituted a dramatic set of free market reforms. The generation shaped during these years is independent and self-reliant, often with a sense of hyper-responsibility for caring for their parents, still struggling with the psychological aftermath of the war. This generation tends to be entrepreneurial, willing to assume risk, and eager to generate wealth quickly in the rapidly-changing economy. This is a pragmatic generation, short-term oriented and able to deal with chaotic conditions.
The events of the mid-1990s through the late 2000s were marked by a significant economic downturn through the 1990s, followed by a rapid boom in the early 2000s, creating an uneven distribution of wealth. The generation shaped during these years is optimistic for the future, sees opportunity in the more open economy, and is hard-working and willing to sacrifice work-life balance for career advancement. During these years, Prime Minister Putin centralized power in Moscow, took a hard-line stance against Chechnya’s desire for independence, and sent tanks to support Georgian-attacked separatist regions and severs diplomatic ties with Georgia. The violence, including the Beslan school massacre, left this generation feeling a sense of immediacy like many of its contemporaries around the globe.
Related Reading:
Filed under: Comparisons Among the Generations | Published: 01/15/11
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