What Hope Is There in Democracy? Russian Opposition in Hard Times

• In Event: Autocratic Challenges in the Post Soviet States

Abstract

It is easy enough to explain why people join a demonstration. Participants in large protests report feelings of exhilaration, joy and solidarity. It is harder, though, to explain the work that extends before and after these inspiring events, especially in authoritarian regimes where the risks of opposition are substantial. This paper offers a novel explanation for movement persistence in authoritarian regimes highlighting the counter-hegemonic meaning that movements construct. Specifically, I show how the anti-Putin opposition movement in Russia understands the value of democracy and how that understanding has shifted over time in line with changes in the Putin regime. The research is based on a unique set of interviews with diverse types of activists from across Russia conducted between 2007 and 2023.

Author

• Ellen Carnaghan, Saint Louis University