Navalny and the Future of Russia

Abstract

This final chapter begins by charting developments following Navalny’s return to Russia in 2021: his detention, sentencing to time in jail, the protests these moves triggered, and his early days in a prison colony. The chapter then steps back, drawing together and reflecting on the different dimensions covered in individual chapters, including asking whether Navalny has achieved what he wanted in politics. The chapter also reflects on a number of questions raised in the book: Is Navalny a revolutionary? Is he a true democrat, a populist—or even a racist? The chapter concludes that the evolution of authoritarianism in Russia shows that the Kremlin takes Navalny and his movement extremely seriously. The chapter finally discusses the role the West could play in Navalny’s fate—and concludes that it will be limited: Navalny’s future will be decided in Russia.

From failed democratization to the war against Ukraine: what happened to Russian institutions under Putin?

“…Another strand of research on elections and parties in Russian authoritarianism focuses on the strategies of the opposition to resist the electoral manipulations of the regime through anti-regime voter coordination. There are several analyses of the rise of the protest movement around the Russian politician Alexey Navalny with its extensive network and considerable capacity across the country (Dollbaum 2020;Dollbaum et al 2021). The promotion of smart voting by Navalny and his supporters is subject to a new but growing body of literature (Lyubarev 2020;Golosov 2021, 2022;Golosov et al 2021).…”

Movement Leadership and Messaging Platforms in Preemptive Repressive Settings: Telegram and the Navalny Movement in Russia

“…In each office, there were a few paid staffers and dozens or hundreds of volunteers. 2 This movement was ideologically diverse and united people sharing common opposition to the authorities (Dollbaum et al, 2022). Approaching the restriction on political activism in Russia, the Navalny organization turned to digital platforms.…”

Anti-Corruption Protests and University Students: Evidence from Russian Cities

“…The 2017 anti-corruption protests in Russia Navalny has become one of the most influential opposition politicians and fiercest critics of corruption in Putin's Russia, using social media as a platform to articulate his political views (Dollbaum et al 2021). In spring 2017, Navalny posted a slick video exposing the abuse of power by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and illustrating the ruling elite's extravagant lifestyle.…”