While we’re on the subject of analysing blogospheres, you might be interested to check out the Nation’s article - In Russia’s Blogosphere, Anything Goes.
It’s packed with plenty of reminders that the ZheZhe community is politically involved and has had a major impact on the way a number of major news stories have risen from obscurity to national prominence.
I was particularly struck by this comment from Ilya Yashin, the head of Yabloko’s youth movement:
“In a country where the parliamentary speaker says that Parliament is not the place for political discussion, it’s natural that you get a phenomenon like politicized ZheZhe.”
Interesting also was the reminder that many of the recent anti-Putin demonstrations were organised, at least in part, by Russian bloggers. The article doesn’t say though - and I’m very curious to know - whether pro-Nashi bloggers also involve themselves in stoking up interest in pro-Putin demonstrations, or whether those are almost enitrely formally arranged.
March 8th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
You’re overlooking the important corrollary to this story, namely the Kremlin’s documented efforts to control and persecute the blogosphere. Check out these items on Publius Pundit:
http://www.publiuspundit.com/?p=3183
http://www.publiuspundit.com/?p=3176
You’re also overlooking the fact that public protests have been total failures and no actual policy has been influenced. No significant blog support for any particular presidential candidate has been organized, and the vast majority of Russians are too poor to access the blogosphere in any case. We’re talking about a new intelligentsia, mostly a useless one.
Worst of all, and I’m disappointed you don’t make this a major point, is our failure to move the Russian blogosphere, to the extent it has any value, into English. I challenge you to offer translations on your blog as I’ve done on mine, and challenge other bloggers to do the same.
March 8th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
I think that, in situations such as these, most public protests tend to be perceived as damp squibs - in that they don’t achieve their stated short term aims.
What they can achieve, however, is an increase in momentum, and a sense that the breakthrough might come at the next protest, which is needed to sustain enthusiasm.
As for moving the Russian blogosphere into English, I didn’t make a point of it because I don’t really think its particularly important. Far more important, I think, is a healthy Russian language blogosphere that speaks directly to other Russians.
As for translations, I agree - they are invaluable, and the work you, Global Voices and others do in this area is to be commended.
I don’t do any translations myself for the simple reason that my Russian isn’t of a high enough standard to allow me to undertake such translations without far too much blood, sweat and tears. I would be happy to provide a forum for the translations of others if anyone approached me but - so far - they haven’t.