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Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.
Digital media can support democracy, freedom, and social cohesion, but it can also erode them.
This book explores that tension through the stories of grassroots volunteer networks in Russia, which emerged on Telegram after February 2022 to support Ukrainian refugees. While most of these networks aim to resist the war-waging Russian state, others seek to advance its aggressive expansionist agenda. Zvonareva examines the deep divide between digitally mediated networks that perform the same humanitarian work — assisting refugees — yet pursue entirely opposing political goals.
This is essential reading for students and scholars of digital media, political participation, and Russian and Eastern European studies.
‘A timely and original contribution revealing how grassroots volunteer initiatives in Russia enact resistance through Telegram-enabled support for Ukrainian refugees, challenging assumptions of universal support for the war in Ukraine.’ Jasmin Dall’Agnola, University of Zurich
‘In this book, digital ethnography of wartime volunteer networks and theories of democracy are brilliantly woven together into a real page-turner.’ Wiebe E. Bijker, Maastricht University
‘A timely and original contribution revealing how grassroots volunteer initiatives in Russia enact resistance through Telegram-enabled support for Ukrainian refugees, challenging assumptions of universal support for the war in Ukraine.’ Jasmin Dall’Agnola, University of Zurich
Introduction
Part I. Politics
Intermezzo 1.1. Politics Beyond the State
Intermezzo 1.2. Rethinking Politics
1. Healthcare: Politics Otherwise
Part II. Participation
Intermezzo 2.1. Diversity of Participation
Intermezzo 2.2. Digital Technologies and Participation
2. A New Ecology of Volunteer Initiatives: Participating by Other Means
Part III. Publics
Intermezzo 3.1. Searching for Publics
Intermezzo 3.2. Publics in the Era of Digitalization
3. 'Patriotic' Initiatives and Divided Publics
Intermezzo 4. Reflections on National Identities
4. A World Less Common