Digital Activism in Russia

This book provides an in-depth investigation of Russian online anti-establishment resistances in 20162019. Grounded in qualitative content analysis of the YouTube videos and social media data of opposition activist Alexey Navalny and his associates, the research covers the history of these communications, their tactics, and the impact on the Russian public sphere and peripheral electorates. Drawing from populism, journalism and digital media studies, Glazunova skilfully shows Russia's digital public sphere to be a multi-faceted site with its own struggles, challenges, and unique communication strategies for political survival. An important and original work, Digital Activism in Russia reflects on the past, present, and future of such resistances in Russia, the central role played by digital media, and its relevance for the political activists struggling for democracy around the world.

Provides a pioneering investigation of Russian online anti-establishment resistances Explores the unique communication strategies used by Russia's multifaceted digital public sphere Includes extensive content analysis of the YouTube videos and social media data of Alexey Navalny, his associates

Auteur

Dr Sofya Glazunova is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Digital Media Research Centre, in the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Her research focuses on political communication, digital resistance, authoritarianism, Russian media, 'fake news', and propaganda. In her postdoctoral research, Dr Glazunova uses a mixed-method approach to unveil digital propaganda strategies, assesses their implications for the digital publics, and elaborates a series of recommendations to combat disinformation in the Russian, Australian, and global context.

Résumé
"This is a brisk and uncomplicated read, and it represents an important contribution to understanding the communication tactics of political outsiders in a specific period in Russian history. ... Digital Activism in Russia is a valuable resource for researchers and students working on digital opposition in Russia or in conversation with other non-democratic contexts ... ." (Sven Daniel Wolfe, Europe-Asia Studies, July 24, 2023)

Contenu
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Part I. Russia's political communication ecosphere: the opposition, news media, and the Net.- Chapter 2: Non-systemic opposition: challenges and communication tactics.- Chapter 3: Journalism and news media: old risks and new formats.- Chapter 4: The Sovereign Internet and social media.- Part II. Digital resistances in non-democracies: tactics and aesthetics.- Chapter 5: Digital resistances in non-democracies.- Chapter 6: Populism and investigative journalism as tactics for digital resistance.- Chapter 7: Populist performance and the aesthetics of YouTube.- Part III. Case studies.- Chapter 8: Navalny's YouTube communication during the presidential campaign 2016-2018.- Chapter 9: 2019 Moscow municipal election and the communication of political outsiders.- Chapter 10: Conclusion.