From political apathy to mobilization – the sources, dynamics and structure of protests in contemporary Russia

The aim of this article is to analyze the most important factors which have influenced the increased protest sentiment in Russian society since the annexation of Crimea. The author proceeds from an analysis of issues concerning the political alienation of the Russian society, which distances Russians from those in power and minimizes their influence on public affairs, and outlines the circumstances in which Russians are mobilized to action. One of the more important questions discussed in the article concerns the motives that prompt certain social groups to break w ith conformity and publicly express their dissatisfaction with and opposition to the actions of the ruling elite. It is necessary to look closely not only at the structure of the protest movement, but also its dynamics and evolution, attempting to ascertain the scale of its potential.