Political Engagement on the Internet and Technologies of Its Implementation in Modern Russia

Abstract

The article presents data of sociological research of the online political participation of citizens and political actors in modern Russia. The research was focused on the Internet political participation as an important component of citizens' political involvement that has a significant impact on a political process in modern Russia. By the political participation on the Internet, we mean the use of Internet technologies to involve different groups of citizens into policy; to organize interaction of political actors and citizens; to affect the formation and implementation of political decisions, formation and functioning of political institutions, activity of political and public organizations as well as to affect the activity of non-system political movements and actions for radical transformation of the existing political system. The article comprises data of the expert opinion polls conducted by the author in October-November 2012 in 4 subjects of the Russian Federation (the Yaroslavl Region, Vologda Region, Ulyanovsk Region and Novosibirsk Region), with the sample of 30 persons. A mass Internet poll was conducted among the users actively participating in online political campaigns, and other politically engaged Internet users, with the sample of 400 interviewees. In this article, the author presents the data results from 15 regions of Russia. A degree of the main actors' Internet political engagement has been analyzed. The authors have determined the most popular and efficient forms and technologies of the Internet participation. Special attention has been paid to the analysis of forms and mechanisms of political actors' Internet participation during election campaigns.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s2p209