Freedom from Politics: Non-activist Russian Youth at the Background of Political Protests of 2011-2012

Abstract

The research conducted in the framework of the MYPLACE-project (Memory, Youth, Political Legacy, and Civic Engagement) reveals the main features of the anti-political attitudes of contemporary Russian youth. Anti-political attitudes and interpretation of politics as an 'alien' domain where any activity is senseless can be accompanied by awareness of political processes and even participation in civic initiatives which, however, are not seen as 'political'. Our respondents often combine the values of freedom and self-fulfillment in the private domain and the idea of the 'strong power' on the national scale. Among the reasons for alienation from politics there are distrust towards formal politics, as well as the generally low level of trust in the society.