A. V. Sokolov, A. A. Frolov. Practices of Grassroots Civic Activity in the Yaroslavl Region: Problems and Results of Implementation

doi: 10.15507/2413-1407.128.032.202403.463-483

UDК 323.2(470.316)

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the increasing importance and complexity of horizontal public relations in socio-political processes, an increase in the number of practices of grassroots civic activity at the regional and local levels, including the use of new information and communication technologies. The purpose of the article is to identify the causes of initiation, the specifics of the organization and practical implementation of grassroots civic activity, as well as the specifics of the interaction of its key actors in modern socio-political conditions in the Yaroslavl region.

Materials and Methods. The empirical basis of the study is 21 practices of grassroots civic engagement in the Yaroslavl Region, the analysis of which was carried out by the case-study method with elements of comparative analysis. The case-study method made it possible to study these practices of grassroots civic engagement in their complexity and integrity, and also identified their key characteristics and factors influencing them.

Results. A comparison of the main practices of grassroots civic engagement that have taken place in the Yaroslavl Region in recent years has been made. The main mechanisms and subjects of grassroots civic engagement, processes of interaction between actors are identified. The role of information and communication technologies in the organization of grassroots civic engagement was determined. The problems of grassroots civic engagement organization and interaction of its key actors were also outlined.

Discussion and Сonclusion. The study revealed the key characteristics of grassroots civic activity: significant actors, theirs goals, motives, resources and methods of action, features of media coverage and the use of information and communication technologies. The results of the study will be useful for improving the efficiency of the work of local authorities with various formal and informal organizations and associations of citizens. They will help to build work with these groups, taking into account the identified features in the implementation of practices of grassroots civil initiatives in the Yaroslavl Region.

Keywords: grassroots civic activity, Yaroslavl Region, civic engagement, territorial public self-government

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study was funded by the Development Program of Yaroslavl State University until 2030, project No. GM-2023-5 Grassroots Civic Engagement in the Yaroslavl region: Normative Regulation and Implementation Practices.

For citation: Sokolov A.V., Frolov A.A. Practices of Grassroots Civic Activity in the Yaroslavl Region: Problems and Results of Implementation. Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2024;32(3):463–483. https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.128.032.202403.463-483

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About the authors:

Alexander V. Sokolov, Dr.Sci. (Polit.), Head of the Chair of Social and Political Theories, P. G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University (14 Sovetskaya St., Yaroslavl 150003, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7325-8374, Researcher ID: C-5767-2018, Scopus ID: 56580305400, alex8119@mail.ru

Alexander A. Frolov, Cand.Sci. (Polit.), Associate Professor of the Chair of Social and Political Theories, Yaroslavl State University (14 Sovetskaya St., Yaroslavl 150003, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8775-016X, Scopus ID: 57216081823, a.a.froloff@gmail.com

Contribution of the authors:

A. V. Sokolov – formulation of the problem; creation of a theoretical concept; analysis of the li­terature on the research problem; generalization of the empirical base; formulation of conclusions and research results.

A. A. Frolov – creation of the main concept of the article; analysis of the literature on the research problem; structuring the empirical base; revision of the text; formulation of conclusions.

Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.

The authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 22.10.2023; revised 04.04.2024; accepted 16.04.2024.