The Element examines the evolution of authoritarianism in Russia from 2011 to 2023, focusing on its impact on contentious action. It argues that authoritarian innovation, characterized by reactive and proactive repression, is the primary determinant of contention at both federal and regional levels. The Element contributes to the understanding of contentious politics in authoritarian regimes by drawing on Russian legislation, reports from human rights organizations, media coverage, and a novel dataset of contentious events created from user-generated reports on Twitter using computational techniques.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Authoritarianism in Russia has undergone significant evolution since 2011, with its impact on contentious action being a key focus. This Element examines the determinants of contention in Russia, highlighting the role of authoritarian innovation in shaping both federal and regional levels of contention. Authoritarian innovation is characterized by reactive and proactive repression, which has become a primary determinant of contentious action in Russia. Drawing on various sources of data, including Russian legislation, reports from human rights organizations, media coverage, and a novel dataset of contentious events created from user-generated reports on Twitter using computational techniques, this Element contributes to the understanding of contentious politics in authoritarian regimes. It underscores the role of authoritarianism and its innovative responses in shaping contentious action, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of contentious politics in Russia.

Authoritarianism in Russia: Evolution and Impact on Contentious Action

Russia has experienced significant political and social changes since the early 2010s, with the emergence of authoritarianism as a dominant force in the country's political landscape. This Element examines the evolution of authoritarianism in Russia from 2011 to 2023, focusing on its impact on contentious action. It argues that the primary determinant of contention, at both federal and regional levels, is authoritarian innovation characterized by reactive and proactive repression. Drawing on Russian legislation, reports from human rights organizations, media coverage, and a novel dataset of contentious events created from user-generated reports on Twitter using computational techniques, this Element contributes to the understanding of contentious politics in authoritarian regimes, underscoring the role of authoritarianism and its innovative responses in shaping contentious action.

Authoritarian Innovation and Reactive Repression

Authoritarian innovation refers to the use of innovative methods and strategies by authoritarian regimes to maintain control and suppress dissent. In Russia, authoritarian innovation has taken several forms, including the use of repressive laws, the suppression of civil society, and the manipulation of public opinion. Reactive repression is a key aspect of authoritarian innovation, as it involves the use of force or other forms of coercion to respond to perceived threats to the regime's stability. This can include the use of police brutality, the imprisonment of political opponents, and the censorship of media outlets. Reactive repression is often used to suppress protests and other forms of dissent, and it has been effective in maintaining the regime's hold on power.

Proactive Repression and Contentious Action

Proactive repression is another key aspect of authoritarian innovation in Russia. It involves the use of preventive measures to prevent the emergence of contentious action. This can include the use of surveillance, the restriction of civil liberties, and the manipulation of public opinion. Proactive repression is often used to prevent the formation of opposition groups and to suppress any potential dissent that may arise. It has been effective in maintaining the regime's hold on power and has contributed to the suppression of contentious action in Russia.

Data and Methods

This Element draws on a variety of sources of data to examine the evolution of authoritarianism in Russia and its impact on contentious action. Russian legislation, reports from human rights organizations, media coverage, and a novel dataset of contentious events created from user-generated reports on Twitter using computational techniques are all used in this Element. The dataset of contentious events was created using a combination of machine learning algorithms and human annotation. The machine learning algorithms were trained on a large dataset of tweets and were able to identify patterns in the language used in tweets that were associated with contentious events. The human annotators then reviewed the identified tweets and labeled them as either contentious or non-contentious. The dataset of contentious events was then used to analyze the impact of authoritarian innovation on contentious action in Russia.

Findings

The findings of this Element suggest that authoritarian innovation has had a significant impact on contentious action in Russia. Reactive repression has been effective in suppressing protests and other forms of dissent, while proactive repression has been effective in preventing the emergence of contentious action. The use of repressive laws, the suppression of civil society, and the manipulation of public opinion have all contributed to the suppression of contentious action in Russia. However, the use of innovative methods and strategies by authoritarian regimes has also led to the emergence of new forms of contentious action, such as online activism and social media campaigns. These new forms of contentious action have been difficult for authoritarian regimes to control and have contributed to the spread of dissent and the erosion of the regime's hold on power.

Conclusion

In conclusion, authoritarian innovation has had a significant impact on contentious action in Russia. Reactive repression has been effective in suppressing protests and other forms of dissent, while proactive repression has been effective in preventing the emergence of contentious action. The use of repressive laws, the suppression of civil society, and the manipulation of public opinion have all contributed to the suppression of contentious action in Russia. However, the use of innovative methods and strategies by authoritarian regimes has also led to the emergence of new forms of contentious action, such as online activism and social media campaigns. These new forms of contentious action have been difficult for authoritarian regimes to control and have contributed to the spread of dissent and the erosion of the regime's hold on power. As Russia continues to evolve, it will be important to monitor the impact of authoritarian innovation on contentious action and to work towards promoting democratic governance and human rights in the country.

ISBN-13: 9781009560658