Shaping Digital Sovereignty in Russia: Actors and Debates

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper examines the construction of digital sovereignty ideas in authoritarian regimes, with a focus on Russia. Text mining and content analysis reveal that authoritarian regimes, in the face of new technologies, cannot simply impose a concept in a top-down manner. Instead, a diverse range of actors, including non-state entities, contribute to its formation, with their significance and participation fluctuating over time. In the context of Russia, digital sovereignty is not just a concept, but a tool used in international politics, economic development, and more, often sidelining the actual issues of technology development and their role in Russian politics.