Self-Representation of Russian Political and Civil Society Organisations

Long-term self-financed research project of the Department of Politics & Economics
 
The guiding theme of the Research Centre for East European Studies “Between Dissent and Consensus” refers prominently to public discourses, in which consensus is defined and dissent is voiced. In this research project the positioning between consensus and dissent, between power and opposition will be analysed for politically engaged collective actors (political parties, political movements and civil society organisations) since the end of the Soviet Union.

The focus is on the self-representation of the respective organisations and the underlying discursive strategies. In this context an analytical instrumental understanding of discourses is applied, which sees discourses as medium and indicator for power in political debates. The analysis thus focuses on the central actors and their discursive strategies in the (still continuing) renegotiation of political order. Because of the dynamic change of the political regime, Russia offers a good case for the inclusion of the role of political context in a comparative dimension.

The basis for empirical research in this project is a comprehensive collection of self-published materials of the organisations included in the analysis (see https://www.forschungsstelle.uni-bremen.de/en/9/20170315114025/Documenting_PartiesNGOs.html) The collection includes print publications (like brochures, membership promotion materials or campaign materials) as well as online-presentations (including websites).
 

Project-related publications

Pleines, Heiko (2020): Media Control as Source of Political Power: Differentiating Reach and Impact, in: Russian Analytical Digest 258, 2-7 (open access)

Nozima Akhrarkhodjaeva: The Instrumentalisation of Mass Media in Electoral Authoritarian Regimes: Evidence from Russia's Presidential Election Campaigns of 2000 and 2008, Columbia University Press 2017, ISBN 978-3838210438