Factors and Strategies of Russian Youth’s Protest Activity Demobilization

Abstract

In the article, protest sentiments are differentiated by the nature of constructiveness and conventionality. Destructive and unconventional protest sentiments often result in extremist and radical actions that pose a threat to the sustainable development of society. The protest youth is divided into activists, situational supporters and passive observers. The discourse analysis of modern scientific research has revealed the predominance of informational, social, political and psychological factors in the formation of protest sentiments. The researchers’ discursive proposals are compared with sociological data revealing the ideas of Russian youth about the necessary ways to develop social activity. Depending on the type of political orientation, potential strategies for the de-escalation of radical protest sentiment are determined.These strategies are based on public engagement and access to resources.