Participation in Public Opinion Polls as Political Engagement in Russia: Evidence from Online and Phone Surveys

• In Event: War, Memory, and Political Engagement: Understanding Regime Support in Russia

Abstract

This paper explores public opinion poll participation in Russia as a form of political engagement. While polling in authoritarian regimes is often seen as a tool of state control, the study argues that some respondents use it to express political views. Findings from 2024 phone and online surveys suggest that politically active individuals are more likely to engage in follow-up polls, though concerns about fear and mistrust persist.

Author

• Marina Vyrskaia, U of Helsinki (Finland)