Abstractedness and Specificity of Protest Agendas in Social Media: Special Characteristics of Broadcasting Themes and Mobilization of Participants

Abstract

The article reveals the characteristics and the specifics of broadcasting protest agendas in social networks, as well as substantiates the importance of social networks in the life of modern society and emphasizes the role of realizing the citizens’ protest activity. A study using political science tools (viz., event analysis, content analysis, case study and comparative analysis) was conducted to determine the transformation characteristics of protest agendas as one of the mechanisms for demobilization of the movements). The authors selected seven of the largest and best-known protest cases implemented in Russia between 2017 and 2021 and a number of protest communities in the social network “Vkontakte” and messenger “Telegram”, on the respective cases. In the course of data collection and analysis in the communities, the main characteristics in social networks were quantified: total number of posts in the target group, number of posts for the main and each supplementary agenda, and number of information, mobilization and reporting posts. The article presents a unique classification of ways of formulating protest agendas. There are two main types of summons: abstract and specific. On the basis of calculations and expert interviews, an abstract coefficient has been created which reflects the dynamics of placement of posts and the transformation of specific publications into abstract ones. As a result, the basic theses and patterns applicable to the subsequent study of the protesting communities were formulated.