Power, Masses, Manipulation
Putin’s Ratings and Russian Society
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
If one believes polls, President Vladimir Putin enjoys tremendous approval ratings. His high standing, however, says more about the state of the political system – which steers public opinion with the help of television as well as mobilising, integrative symbols – than it does about society’s attitudes. After all, society is cut off from the chance to influence politics. In a situation of political impoverishment where elective possibilities are missing and competition is nonexistent, the approval ratings of the Putin regime have a purely ceremonial, imitative character.
(Osteuropa 7/2014, pp. 3–12)