Adaptation Strategies of Opponents and Supporters of the Special Military Operation to the Current Situation (Based on Residents of Samara Region)

Abstract

Strategies for adapting to traumatic events such as military conflicts are largely determined by a person’s outlook on such events. As such, research on the differences in the adaptation strategies of Russian supporters and opponents of the “special military operation” in the Ukraine (SMO) to the current situation provides a sociological description of how assessments of traumatic events impact the development of strategies for adapting to them. The purpose of this article is to describe the similarities and differences in adaptation strategies between supporters and opponents of the SMO. To achieve the research goals, the authors conducted 4 focus group studies with 6 participants each from the Samara region in April of 2022, recruited by gender, age and income level. The adaptation strategies of supporters and opponents of the SMO have a number of similarities and differences. Both supporters and opponents reconsidered their everyday practices according to the changes in their conditions of living. Both parties look into the future with caution, while trying to distract themselves from their experiences by focusing on work and leisure, and avoiding discussing topics related to the Ukraine in order to prevent conflicts. At the same time, supporters of the SMO weren’t as worried about the difficulties associated with it, since for them they are mainly economic in nature, while opponents, in addition to economic issues, deal with psychological problems due to them disagreeing with the decision to send troops to the Ukraine. The adaptation strategy of supporters boils down to them solving their own everyday problems, believing in the best and trusting the official point of view on the SMO, removing themselves from political matters and leaving them to the powers that be. Its opponents found it much more difficult to adapt to the current situation. Their main adaptation strategy lies in avoiding the following: political news, discussing the SMO, as well as supporters of the SMO. They feel powerless to do anything about the situation, therefore, just like the supporters of the “special operation”, they try to delve into solving their own everyday problems, but they do it not with hope for a better future and faith in the capabilities of their country, but with a pessimistic rejection of the situation, a lack of any sort of positive outlook on the future, awareness of the unfairness of the situation and a sense of disagreement with it.