Description
Book SynopsisThe so-called Democratic Antifascist Youth Movement "Nashi" represents a crucial case of a post-Orange government-organised formation whose values have broad support in Russian society. Yet, at the same time, in view of the movement's public scandals, Nashi was also a phenomenon bringing to the fore public reluctance to accept all implications of Putin's new system. The Russian people's relatively widespread support for his patriotic policies and conservative values has been evident, but this support is not easily extended to political actors aligned to these values. Using discourse analysis, this book identifies socio-political factors that created obstacles to Nashi's communication strategies. The book understands Nashi as anticipating an "ideal youth" within the framework of official national identity politics and as an attempt to mobilise largely apolitical youngsters in support of the powers that be. It demonstrates how Nashi's ambivalent societal position was the result of a failed attempt to reconcile incompatible communicative demands of the authoritarian state and apolitical young.
Trade Review"The findings presented here suggest that further studies of Nashis rank and file members or regional organizations would provide even greater insights into the evolution of Putinism and youth policy." -- Regina Smyth, Anthropology of East Europe Review, no. 31, Spring 2013
"[B]oth volumes succeed admirably in providing insightful portraits of the language, politics, and agenda of Russias youth movements during the Putin years." -- The Russian Review (Volume 72, No.4, October 2013)
"Die Studie bemüht sich um eine tiefgehende Auseinandersetzung mit dem Phänomen Nai im Russland der Nullerjahre, wobei der Autor sehr interessantes empirisches Material verarbeitet." -- Osteuropa, 12/2013
