YOUTH 2020 - The position of young people in Slovenia

General trends in young people’s values and attitudes  37 MIRAN LAVRIČ AND TIBOR RUTAR 1. GENERAL TRENDS IN YOUNG PEOPLE’S VALUES AND ATTITUDES 1.1  INTRODUCTION Ever since the first systematic youth research appeared in independent Slovenia, an investigation into their values, preferences, and beliefs has been one of its core parts (cf. Ule, 1996a, 2008; Ule, Miheljak, 1995; Ule, Rener, 1998; Miheljak, 2002). The main trend uncovered by these older studies is young people’s general reorientation from societal concerns to an inward looking concern with their personal selves (Ule, 1996b: 23). Quite some time ago, Slovenia witnessed a shift frommore abstract, ide- ologically grounded, and coherent value systems to more particular and concrete values, among which the importance of interpersonal relation- ships and the quality of everyday life have increased (Ule, 1996c: 241). Interest in politics, military, and religion declined sharply (Ule, 1996c: 257; Miheljak, 2002: 243). How has this value hierarchy changed in the new millennium, between the year 2000 and 2020? Figure 1.1 clearly shows there were no significant structural changes in the 20-year period.