Many initiatives of Russian parties are ahead of global political trends. This conclusion was reached by the authors of the report “Current agendas and initiatives in elections in countries around the world 2022–2025,” prepared by experts from the Higher School of Economics. The dominant topics in the domestic political arena of different countries remain the cost of living and, at the same time, problems of sovereignty and national identity.
The general election agenda for 2025 has significantly strengthened the trends that have developed since 2022, the authors of the report note. The dominant thematic frame, according to the researchers, turned out to be the “cost of living crisis”, and the topics of purchasing power, housing affordability and tax burden became the “absolute mainstream”. In addition, the demand for “normalization and predictability” is growing, polarization over the “green agenda” is increasing, and at the same time, “in the absence of good solutions in the economy, the topic of sovereignty and national identity is actively returning to the agenda.”
The report was prepared by the Laboratory of Political Communications of the National Research University Higher School of Economics with the support of the Expert Institute for Social Research. Researchers analyzed 425 election programs of parties and candidates for parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia and states close to it in terms of “socio-demographic, socio-political and economic indicators” (Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Great Britain, Hungary, Poland, France, Japan, etc.).
The most significant pre-election topics, according to experts, were social policy (13.5 thousand initiatives), economics and welfare (8.6 thousand), as well as government structure (5.4 thousand). To a lesser extent, policy emphasis was placed on defense and security (3.6 thousand), ecology (3.2 thousand), comfortable environment (2.3 thousand), culture and science (2 thousand), international relations (1.9 thousand), finance and budget (1.8 thousand). Mandatory social topics for party programs in all countries studied were health care, education, support for families with children, and the fight against economic inequality. At the same time, the proposed initiatives, the authors of the report claim, often “copy decisions taken long ago in Russia.” In particular, this applies to remote electronic voting, as well as analogues of the Russian “Pushkin Card” and maternity capital.
In economic matters, theses on the development of agriculture, employment and labor productivity lead. In terms of government, politicians are addressing topics related to the creation of new government bodies, the efficiency of government, and the reform of the judicial and law enforcement systems.
In terms of political technologies, researchers have recorded a trend toward “involving voters in activities to transform the country.” Citizens are invited to “act”, “do”, “work”, etc. together.
Also, election slogans are often based on a country or national territory (“Honduras is ready for rebirth!”), and evoking pride in it becomes a key element of the slogan or name of the program. At the same time, the presence of “normality”, “reasonableness” (“We want a normal country!”) and “justice” remains in the slogans.
The universal consensus addressee of all political forces remains a family with a child. Other popular targets for campaigning include women, the elderly, youth and people with disabilities. Newcomers include self-employed and freelancers, victims of scams, debtors and pet owners.
Russian party members who read the report rated the examination quite highly. According to Sergei Perminov, a member of the General Council of United Russia, analysts have captured two precise characteristics of the current electoral processes: voters’ request for high-quality communication and a deeper understanding of their own identity. “It is important that representatives of Russian parties are trend makers and form new products,” the senator rejoiced. “The report outlines all the activities of the A Just Russia faction over the past five-year period,” State Duma deputy, Socialist Revolutionary Dmitry Gusev modestly noted. Russian party members really use the mentioned topics and technologies everywhere, agreed MP Sergei Obukhov (Communist Party of the Russian Federation): “The only question is communication with the voter.” At the same time, the communists, according to him, also used the findings of their foreign comrades – for example, “Unconquered France” and the German Die Linke (“Left”). “But I won’t tell you which ones specifically,” the deputy maintained the intrigue.
