Divided Publics, livre ebook

First in-depth study of grassroots volunteer action in Russia’s wartime digital landscape;

Introduces the new concept of “de-publicized public participation” for analysing activism beyond democratic contexts;

Relevant to digital media, political science, Russian studies and participation research.

Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

Digital media can support democracy, freedom, and social cohesion, but it can also erode them.

This book explores that tension through the stories of grassroots volunteer networks in Russia, which emerged on Telegram after February 2022 to support Ukrainian refugees. While most of these networks aim to resist the war-waging Russian state, others seek to advance its aggressive expansionist agenda. Zvonareva examines the deep divide between digitally mediated networks that perform the same humanitarian work — assisting refugees — yet pursue entirely opposing political goals.

This is essential reading for students and scholars of digital media, political participation, and Russian and Eastern European studies.

Introduction

Part I. Politics

Intermezzo 1.1. Politics Beyond the State

Intermezzo 1.2. Rethinking Politics

1. Healthcare: Politics Otherwise

Part II. Participation

Intermezzo 2.1. Diversity of Participation

Intermezzo 2.2. Digital Technologies and Participation

2. A New Ecology of Volunteer Initiatives: Participating by Other Means

Part III. Publics

Intermezzo 3.1. Searching for Publics

Intermezzo 3.2. Publics in the Era of Digitalization

3. 'Patriotic' Initiatives and Divided Publics

Intermezzo 4. Reflections on National Identities

4. A World Less Common