Hello, I'm an amateur writer working on an Existential fiction based on a young adult (20 years old) living in Russia during the time indicated in the title. He live in poverish conditions with his mother; she's a stay at home wife who takes care of his younger siblings. The father is out of the picture serving in Afghanistan. The uncle, another character active in his life, is struggling with a drug addiction. Here are some questions I'm hoping to get answered in order to be as accurate as possible in my story. Again the time frame I'm focusing on is between 1979 and 1989 during the Soviet-Afghan war.
What sort if propaganda was prevalent in Russia during this time?
What was the majority of public opinion toward the government and the war?
What was the majority of public opinion toward the U.S.?
What was the general attitude of Russian soldiers toward the war?
What was the Russian economy like?
What were the living conditions like for most Russian citizens?
Was it expected of young men to enlist in the Russian military when they came of age?
In regards to the Uncle character, what were some common drug addictions seen in Russia during this time?
Was there a strong sense of civil rights and women's rights in Russia during this time?
I think that is all the questions I have for now, I'm working on formulating a strong story outline. My goal is to accurately display the setting of Russia as well as the struggles and challenges a young Russian adult would have encountered during this time.
Thank you
Edit: Sorry for the typo in the title. I meant to say "What was life like in Russia".
The uncle, another character active in his life, is struggling with a drug addiction.
This is not typical affliction at that time. While there were drug addicts (and some of them became addicted while serving in Afghan), they weren't numerous, mostly in largest cities (Moscow, Leningrad) and mostly sons of high-profile bureaucrats. Alcohol abuse was (and still is) much more prevalent.
Where did you get this idea of drug addict from??? It become a noticeable problem only in late 80s, like ~1987 it got much ado in press. Still, it was too exotic.
Was there a strong sense of civil rights and women's rights in Russia during this time?
Issue of "women rights" at that time in USSR was understood in reverse - many women do not want to work and would like to stay at home - and state frowned upon that. So, many women were fighting to get back to traditional, patriarchal family - as they felt that state was forcing them to get a job. One of the quirks of USSR law was requirement for a healthy person to work. You could get in jail if you're a тунеядец (~social parasite) - see Russian Wiki Parasitism. So, if you a married woman and have a grown kid older than 3 yrs - you have to work (unless medically incapacitated). There were a lot of job vacancies everywhere (well, with exception of some places, like southern republics - they have high birth rate and not enough good jobs).
"civil rights" was completely alien word combination at a time - USSR Constitution guaranteed right to life, to work, to vacation, to equality among nations and sexes and so on (including, BTW freedom to religious practice) - a long list of rights. Sure, there were some glass ceilings and hidden discrimination - but officially you'd be whacked by law hard for any public expressions of nationalism or discrimination.
"human rights" was actively used in ideological struggle. Dissidents were claiming USSR was violating those (right for religious and political expression was most often cited) and USSR officials claimed, of course, otherwise.
Anyway, I have to cut my answer - sorry, I'm short on time. To answer all your questions would take me a week :-)).
PS. I served in VVS (USSR Air Force) during last years of Afghan war and know many veterans of other services too. So, if you think I could be of help - contact me.
EDIT: adding some sources
Sources
Rodric Braithwaite. Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan 1979-89. Former British ambassador to Moscow in 80s.
(russian, online book) A. A. Lyakhovsky - The tragedy and valor [of the veterans] of Afghan[istan] = Ляховский А. А. Трагедия и доблесть Афгана. Most comprehensive book to date with high-level overview of military action. Maj. Gen Lyakhovsky served as personal aide to Army General Valentin Varennikov, USSR's chief military adviser in DRA.
(russian) Art of War project - Schennikov. Memoirs of platoon CO from 149 Guards Rifle Regiment, 201st Motorized Rifle Division, Kunduz, 1983-86. Part I. A lot of photos. There's a lot of similar memoirs from other units and other provinces. 149st Regiment was based here. Part II and Part III.
Everyday life in USSR. In 1987, within the bounds of the «Children of the world» international project by a Japanese publishing house «Kaiseisya», which was famous in the 80-s of the 20th century, Yasuhiko Miyajima shot everyday life of a Moscow school fourth grader Katya. In two years, Americans published the reprint which was provided with comments about life in the USSR.
If you want, I can try to get a hold of my Russian friend. He grew up in conditions not too dissimilar from your character (father was deployed to Afghanistan while he was a child). He later enlisted, himself, and served in Chechnya as his family had a tradition of serving in the military. He is fairly busy today, though, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to get a hold of him.