New Solidarities on the Internet: From Discussion to Action (the Case of the Movement “For Honest Elections”)

Abstract

The recent events (political and civil activities in Russia during the winter of 2011/2012, as well as during the spring of 2012) caused a surge in studies of protest activities generally and of the role of new technologies in such activities in particular. Therefore, of interest is the question about the foundations of new solidarities emerging on the Internet. What makes people unite symbolically with other protesters? What views do they share? What are the boundaries of such communities?