CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Siiutkin, Vladislav |
|---|---|
| Title | How Do Ordinary Citizens Experience Polarization Under an Authoritarian Regime? A Qualitative Study of Affects and Preferences in the Post-Invasion Russian Society |
| Summary | In recent decades, political polarization attracted increasing attention in the academy and beyond. Most scholars considered polarization a phenomenon that erodes democratic norms in the interest of populist political entrepreneurs therefore harming democracies. However, the definitional characteristics of polarization – affective and preference distance among citizens – can be observed and studied in any political environment. This research suggests exploring affective and preference polarization under an authoritarian regime, specifically in Russian society in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. The analysis of semi-structured interviews with supporters, undecideds, and opponents of the invasion, demonstrates that both affective and preference polarization may fail due to depoliticization, typical for autocracies. Precisely, the hostility of citizens diminishes because they found their adversaries mostly in primary groups – among relatives, friends, and colleagues. At the same time, preference polarization appears to be non-divisive since many political views are shared by adversaries. The polarization attempted by Kremlin and its opposition did not succeed, which opens perspectives for further cooperation and compromises between citizens with opposing views. |
| Supervisor | Bozóki, András |
| Department | Political Science MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/siiutkin_vladislav.pdf |
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