ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the structure of the national conversation: the narratives that emerged from within the pro- and anti-regime street actions and among the observers, those who chose not to participate in political action. It argues that events identified some of the most salient, contentious issues in Russian politics, from the need for reform to the costs of corruption, and the best guarantor of Russia's political future with evidence from an original survey and focus group data. The chapter reviews the evolution of protests during the Putin era, highlighting the evolutionary development of political grievances within the Russian population. It focuses on an empirical analysis of political grievances, individual motivations to protest and the political goals participants. The chapter analyses the legacy of the movement in terms of Karen Beckwith's concept of the movements defeat narrative focusing on the ways in which the participants framed the successes and failures of the first cycle of protest.
