In Russia the government control or have a great influence to very big part of the economy. And people are becoming “Kremlin agents” by working in organizations which someway controlled by government.
Some people (especially from poor families) go to work in police. Journalists go to work in pro-Kremlin media because there a very few anti-Kremlin media. Scientists can only work in state organizations or emigrate, because in Russia non-state scientific organization are practically absent. Most schools and universities are controlled by the government.
And when people are already inside the system, it is very difficult for them to contradict to it because of a status quo bias and a financial dependence.
And signaling loyalty is not strictly prohibited. It is just not supported in most cases. I think an independent person with pro-Putin banner would not be fined or arrested. Just all (including loyalists) would be think about they as a some crazy.
I think pro-Z demonstrations as a whole are the signal from Kremlin to opponents: “We have people’s support.” And usually a single participant of pro-Z demonstration is signalling loyalty: “You said me to go to the rally and I don’t resist.”
How did the Kremlin find new agents if signaling loyalty was prohibited?
In Russia the government control or have a great influence to very big part of the economy. And people are becoming “Kremlin agents” by working in organizations which someway controlled by government.
Some people (especially from poor families) go to work in police. Journalists go to work in pro-Kremlin media because there a very few anti-Kremlin media. Scientists can only work in state organizations or emigrate, because in Russia non-state scientific organization are practically absent. Most schools and universities are controlled by the government.
And when people are already inside the system, it is very difficult for them to contradict to it because of a status quo bias and a financial dependence.
And signaling loyalty is not strictly prohibited. It is just not supported in most cases. I think an independent person with pro-Putin banner would not be fined or arrested. Just all (including loyalists) would be think about they as a some crazy.
Pro-Z demonstrations don’t signal loyalty, they signal fanatical nationalism; at least that’s how I interpreted that paragraph.
What do you mean by “fanatical nationalism”?
I think pro-Z demonstrations as a whole are the signal from Kremlin to opponents: “We have people’s support.” And usually a single participant of pro-Z demonstration is signalling loyalty: “You said me to go to the rally and I don’t resist.”
I meant independent pro-Z demonstrations; not those initiated by the Kremlin.