SOCIAL CAPITAL AND LEGAL CULTURE OF YOUTH: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF STUDIES IN THE POST-SOVIET SPACE

Abstract

Modern transformation processes taking place in the post-Soviet countries have a significant impact on social institutions, legal systems and mechanisms for forming the civic identity of young people. This study systematically analyzes the scientific literature on social capital and the legal culture of youth in the post-Soviet space based on data from the Scopus database (1998-2024). The bibliometric analysis method and the VOSviewer tool allowed us to identify the main research areas, key concepts, and thematic clusters. The analysis has shown that contemporary studies of social capital among young people focus on civic participation, institutional trust, corruption, and the influence of digital technologies on political and social behavior. One of the key trends is the hybridization of models of civic activity, expressed in a combination of traditional forms of participation with digital tools of self-organization. In addition, studies indicate low confidence among young people in public institutions, which affects the perception of legality and legal norms. An important aspect is the growing role of social networks in shaping civic identity and the legitimacy of democratic practices. Finally, it stresses the need to study further mechanisms of forming legal awareness among young people and the influence of educational programs and digital platforms on the legal culture in post-Soviet countries.