Political Engagement

Description

Speaker:  Stephen White (University of Glasgow) 

We’ve just been through two Russian elections. Turnouts were up, and there were big majorities in support of the party led by President Putin and in support of his chosen successor. Surveys can give us something of what we need to understand these processes. But the purpose of the seminar is to explore the perspective that is provided by a different kind of evidence: focus groups. I would like to use the opportunity to explore the strengths and weaknesses of focus groups in the Russian context, and then say something about the evidence they provide in the Russian case, on the basis of six focus groups conducted at various locations earlier this year. I will be interested as much in issues of methodology as in the substance of the discussions, but there will be plenty of that as well. Those who are interested might like to look at an earlier paper of mine to which this will be something of a follow-up,

‘Political disengagement in post-communist Russia: a qualitative study’, Europe-Asia Studies 57:8 (December 2005), pp. 1121-1142.
 

This event is part of the Contemporary Russian Culture Studies Group Seminar series.

Meetings are held on alternate Wednesdays during term-time, 5pm to 7.00pm at CRASSH.

All welcome.  No registration required.

 

Click on the link on the right hand side of the page to see the full programme for Michaelmas and Lent Terms 08-09.

For administrative enquiries please contact mm405@cam.ac.uk.