Countering youth extremism – is the basis for the security of the development of modern civil society
The article comprehensively examines the features of extremism spreading among young people (informal youth movements) as one of the negative factors affecting the security of civil society and the entire current system of government in the Russian Federation at the present stage of development. The official statistics of the Ministry of internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the judicial Department of the Russian Federation and the public organization «Center for economic and political reforms» are given, indicating an increase in the number of extremist crimes among young people aged 14 to 25 years. The emphasis is placed on the fact that a particular danger to society is the popularization of the ideas of extremism directly in youth circles. Criminological features of extremism in modern Russia are considered. The authors point to a significant increase in the role of the information and telecommunication Internet in the spread of extremist ideology. The article considers the concept of «youth extremism» as a violent change in the foundations of the constitutional system and violation of the integrity of the state, public justification of terrorism and other terrorist activities, violation of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of man and citizen, depending on his social, racial, national, religious or linguistic affiliation or attitude to religion.