1. Centre for Modernity Studies 1 'Returning to roots' in post-Soviet Russia Paul Kroopkin, PhD Centre for Modernity Studies

2. 2 Method of the research Internet – Social Networks Mutual discussions on social and political issues Content analysis

3. Centre for Modernity Studies 3 Results of behavioral analysis Evident grouping In every group: activists and others; activity – mainly virtual In-group solidarity / “hate” between groups “Ancestor worship” approach + “conspirological” mind “Golden age” in history + “pantheon of heroes”

4. Centre for Modernity Studies 4 Social mapping of the i-activists Middle and below-middle classes All-over the world: Russia and Russian- speaking population of different countries i-Groups in many cases represent an appropriate “real-life” parts of the population

5. Centre for Modernity Studies 5 Main i-groups “Westernians” “Stalinists” + “Brejnevists” “Empirists” Russian nationalists Ukrainian nationalists + other minor i-groups (heathens, etc)

6. Centre for Modernity Studies 6 Attitude to some key memes

7. Centre for Modernity Studies 7 Features of “Ancestor worship” Prevailing of the past over the future “Us” are strongly separated from “them”; “hate” in relationships (virtual) “Golden age”, where “our” ancestors lived in power “Totems”, sacral symbols PS: Conspirology: “Enemies” are omnipotent, but ancestors prevailed over them…

8. Centre for Modernity Studies 8 “Westernians” Real-life part – most efficient and media powerful group with a strong social identity Leading group of a discourse; others – just push off themselves from points of W “Golden age”: 20th and 90th of XX “Totems”: Western societies in general, USA in particular

9. Centre for Modernity Studies 9 “Stalinists” & “Brejnevists” Real-life part – unstructured population of reform’s “losers” “Golden age”: 30-50th for S and 70th for B “Totems”: Victory in 2WW, Cosmos, A- bomb; for S also - Stalin

10. Centre for Modernity Studies 10 “Empirists” Real-life part – unstructured population of reform’s “losers” + part of bureaucracy “Golden age”: 80-90th of XIX “Totems”: the Great History of Russia and achievements of Romanov’s Empire + Victory in 2WW, Cosmos, A-bomb

11. Centre for Modernity Studies 11 Russian nationalists Real-life part – small and unstructured “Golden age”: mainly absent, some: medieval republics of north-west Russia “Totems”: Nation, Israel's or Baltic’s social practices

12. Centre for Modernity Studies 12 Ukrainian nationalists Real-life part – very powerful in Ukraine “Golden age”: medieval Kiev’s state “Totems”: Nation, Independent Ukraine, Israel's or Baltic’s social practices

13. Centre for Modernity Studies Stalinists vs Westernians