Demobilization of Russian youth and barriers to digital civil activism

Abstract

The article examines sociological discourse and approaches to defining the concept of demobilization. The emphasis is on the personal level of demobilizing barriers to participation of Russian youth in digital activism. An all-Russian survey of experts in the field of digital participation of youth was conducted (32 experts from 8 federal districts). The author proposes a typology of barriers that cause demobilization at the stages of involvement (information, reputational, resource barriers, as well as barriers of socialization, irresponsibility, mistrust, goal setting) and retention (barriers of perspective, communication, formalization, routinization and network) of youth in civic activism. The influence exerted by the digital environment on enhancing demobilization effects is shown. The conclusion is drawn about the high frequency of confrontations between participants and organizers of digital activism with the identified barriers, but at the same time the positive attitude of experts about the possibilities of overcoming them.