The persistent negative outlook among the Russian populace is most evident in their perception of the future. Even in the relatively prosperous year of 2019, 62% of Russians, according to the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), felt that the country’s situation was not conducive to life planning. But In the atmosphere of uncertainty and stress that has developed in Russia in the third year of the war, Russians avoid making plans for several years ahead or thinking about the future.
“This behaviour deepens the state of anxiety, especially if there are expectations of a negative outcome,” writes Elena Koneva, sociologist and founder of ExtremeScan, a research organization.
According to ExtremeScan survey data from the autumn of 2023, the so-called “special military operation” came in third place among significant factors affecting respondents’ personal lives, after health (their own and that of loved ones) and family income.
“Available research in Russia shows a significant increase in anxiety and depressed moods,” Koneva says.
No future without an end to the war
Russian people want to believe in the future but they cannot, with respondents 35 years old or younger the most pessimistic, her research reveals. Those in the older age group tend to demonstrate optimism, though they admit that it is not based on facts but an unfounded belief in Russia’s strength and luck.
“The experience of recent years shows that even if the bullet has been dodged for now, people should nonetheless prepare for a worsening of the situation in every sense,” says Koneva.
Well, if they all banded together, went to the streets and protested together - what bad could happen?
Arresting everyone? Hundreds, even thousands of people? How big should that prison be?
The old Soviet prison cities still exist. So yeah, that’s a possibility
They kinda did it a few times, I dunno if you remember, but it was Obama with his rebooting relationships with Russia and madam Merkel with her firm belief in peace through fossil fuels trade and such. So both USA and EU countries and many others were recognizing Putin’s elections as very good, very democratic and about protesters would kinda ask to be softer with them, while TV talking heads and morons in the web would explain everyone how it’s better that Putin remains in power, after all, what if communists or neo-nazis come to power and, for example, invade a neighboring country?..
Hundreds and thousands - perfectly realistic and has happened. Were let go after some time because it was a different time and they needed sorta illusion of being softer.