Miryasova O.A. Between the (de)politicized and the quasipolitical: civic engagement in the non-political space. Political science (RU). 2026. No. 3. Pp. 155–176. DOI: http: ...

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: https://www.politnauka.ru/jour/article/view/1379/1113 (дата обращения 17.09.2026)

Abstract

This article examines the value cleavages and the role of civic participation in contemporary Russia in the context of politicization and depoliticization processes. The author studies the Russian socio-political space as organized in terms of a “zone of power”, which limits citizen participation in politics and the formation of an institutionalized political field. The methodological framework of the study is based on a neo-institutional approach and a conceptual distinction between political power and power as domination. Using data from nationwide surveys, this article analyzes political preferences, value cleavages, and their relationship to civic participation. It shows that respondents' self-identification through ideological categories (“democrats”, “patriots”, “socialists”, etc.) is unstable and situational. It is, the author claims, a more promising approach to identify political preferences through expressions of agreement or disagreement with statements related to socio-political issues. The study found a statistically significant correlation between citizen engagement in civic activities and the presence of opinions on political issues. It was shown that measuring attitudes toward significant political figures, past and present, can be applicable / useful to identify political cleavages. Citizens evaluating the participation of others in protests positively are considered as a potential source of politicization. This group is characterized by more pronounced demand for expanded democratic mechanisms in governing the country, changes to the political and legal system, and public oversight.