New Media and Political Participation in Russia and Kazakhstan: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Young People in Eurasia

New Media and Political Participation in Russia and Kazakhstan: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Young People in Eurasia explores how new media promotes political participation among young people in Russia and Kazakhstan, developing two models to explain how new-media use translates into political participation.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

New Media and Political Participation in Russia and Kazakhstan: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Young People in Eurasia

The sociological problem of young people's use of new media in political participation, particularly in Eurasian countries, is addressed in the book New Media and Political Participation in Russia and Kazakhstan: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Young People in Eurasia. The author describes how and why new media encourages young people to participate politically in Russia and Kazakhstan. While there has been no shortage of analysis regarding the interconnection between new media and political participation, this research is unique in that it explains the mechanisms and reasons behind new-media-assisted political participation. This book develops two models—theoretical and New-Media-Led Political Participation—that provide a better understanding of how new-media use translates into political participation. These models are of paramount importance for the study of new-media-led political participation, which builds in-depth knowledge to the research area from a post-communist perspective. This book not only sheds light on the ways in which, and the reasons why, new media contributes to the nature of political participation, but also explains why citizens use new media in their political participation. The author focuses his attention on what happens on the ground, specifically in specific contexts such as cities, towns, and villages, by young people.

Theoretical Framework

The book begins by introducing the theoretical framework that underpins the study. The author argues that new media has the potential to transform political participation by providing young people with new tools and platforms to engage with politics. The theoretical framework is based on the concept of social capital, which refers to the networks and relationships that individuals have with others in their social networks. The author argues that new media can create new opportunities for young people to build and strengthen their social capital, which in turn can lead to increased political participation.

New-Media-Led Political Participation Model

The book then develops the New-Media-Led Political Participation model, which explains how new media can facilitate political participation. The model is based on the idea that new media can provide young people with access to information, resources, and networks that can help them engage with politics. The model includes four key elements: access to information, resources, networks, and participation. Access to information refers to the ability of young people to access news, information, and opinion on political issues. Resources include the ability of young people to access political parties, organizations, and campaigns. Networks include the ability of young people to connect with other young people who share their political interests. Participation refers to the ability of young people to engage in political activities such as voting, attending political rallies, and participating in online forums.

The New-Media-Led Political Participation model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how new media can facilitate political participation. The model emphasizes the importance of access to information, resources, networks, and participation in order to promote political engagement among young people. The model also recognizes the potential barriers that young people may face in accessing these resources, such as lack of education, lack of access to technology, and social exclusion.

Empirical Analysis

The book then conducts an empirical analysis to test the New-Media-Led Political Participation model. The empirical analysis is based on a survey of 1,000 young people in Russia and Kazakhstan. The survey was designed to measure the extent to which new media facilitates political participation among young people. The survey results show that new media does facilitate political participation among young people in Russia and Kazakhstan. The results show that young people who use new media are more likely to be engaged in political activities such as voting, attending political rallies, and participating in online forums. The results also show that young people who use new media are more likely to have a positive opinion of political parties, organizations, and campaigns.

The empirical analysis provides strong support for the New-Media-Led Political Participation model. The results show that new media can provide young people with access to information, resources, and networks that can help them engage with politics. The results also show that new media can promote political participation among young people by providing them with a platform to express their opinions and ideas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, New Media and Political Participation in Russia and Kazakhstan: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Young People in Eurasia provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how new media can facilitate political participation. The book develops two models—theoretical and New-Media-Led Political Participation—that provide a better understanding of how new-media use translates into political participation. The empirical analysis provides strong support for the New-Media-Led Political Participation model, which emphasizes the importance of access to information, resources, networks, and participation in order to promote political engagement among young people. The book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the role.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666927801