Socio-Economic Status of the Actors of the Request for Change

Abstract

The article analyzes the socio-economic situation of supporters of change and adherents of stability in the statics (according to 2019) and dynamics (during 1997–2019). The analysis confirms the concept that the importance of the absolute socio-economic situation (level of income) has no significant connection with the presence/absence of protest requests. The study of subjective satisfaction with the socio-economic situation was found to be more productive. At the same time, the point of view that the main supporters of change in post-Soviet Russia are Russians who feel they are poorer should be strongly rejected. The analysis showed that supporters of change in Russia are, as a rule, people with average financial status. At the same time, compared to previous years, by the end of the 2010s actors for change are gaining new features: being more satisfied with their backround, they demonstrate dissatisfaction with the aspects of their lives that determine their future (material situation, access to quality medical care and, especially, the ability to express their political views). Social and political factors, in contrast to the first post-Soviet decade, come to the fore. In general, the main social and economic differences in recent years between supporters of change and supporters of stability can be described as follows: those who want to change are more acutely affected by the problems of financial standing and maintaining health, but even more acutely by the decline in political opportunities in society.