printRevolutionary Activity in the Digital Age:
Characteristics of Emergence and Development in the Context of Political Regimes
Zhdanov A.I.
Junior Research Fellow, HSE University, Moscow, Russia andreizhdanov998@gmail.com
Korotayev A.V.
Ph.D., Dr. Sci. (Hist.), Director, HSE University, Moscow, Russia; Chief Researcher, Institute for African Studies of RAS, Moscow, Russia akorotayev@gmail.com
The research was carried out as part of the HSE Fundamental Research Program (HSE-BR-2025-48) in 2026 with the support of the Russian Science Foundation (project № 24-18-00650).
Zhdanov A.I., Korotayev A.V. Revolutionary Activity in the Digital Age: Characteristics of Emergence and Development in the Context of Political Regimes. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2026. No 8. P. 3-14
This article analyzes the impact of digital technologies and the internet on the emergence and development of revolutionary activity in the 21st century. The authors examine the internet as a significant new factor in political destabilization, noting its role in coordinating protests, overcoming state censorship, and shaping new behavioral patterns. The paper highlights key digital aspects of revolutionary destabilization: inflated value expectations, the associated increase in frustration, political polarization, and the simplification of agitation and communication. Particular attention is paid to the regime context: hypotheses are put forward that the level of internet penetration affects the likelihood of revolutions differently depending on the type of political regime, with the greatest vulnerability expected in democracies and anocracies. A positive correlation is also proposed between the level of internet restrictions and the risk of revolutionary uprisings. The study draws on modern theoretical approaches and empirical observations, including the phenomenon of “Zoomer revolutions.” This paper contributes to the debate between “cyber-optimists” and “cyber-pessimists” by offering a differentiated approach to assessing digital factors in different political systems. The results may be useful for predicting political risks and developing stability management strategies in the digital age.
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