Empowerment as a sign and problem of modern mass politics

Abstract

The article analyses the strategy of empowerment. The author believes that the strategy determines essential differences between modern and traditional forms of mass politics. The article examines semantics and etymology of the concept of «empowerment», describes the history of its semantic development. It also outlines the strategy based on this concept, assesses its significance for success of democratic regimes. Using the findings of a public survey conducted under the direction of S.V. Patrushev (Institute of Sociology, RAS) in June 2014 within the research project «Mass politics in Russia» the author - focusing on gender component - attempts to find out if empowerment conforms to characteristics of mass consciousness and political behavior of Russians.