Civil participation and political activity of the residents of Vologda Oblast: efficiency assessment of the dialogue between government and society
The subject of this research is the level of civic activity of the residents of Vologda Oblast in social life of the region. The research leans on the general scientific, cross-disciplinary, and private scientific methods. The article employs online questionnaire-based survey as a quantitative method of research for data collection; methods of data analysis used in studying the subject of research: statistical analysis, and interpretation. The empirical part is based on the chi-square test, one-dimensional distribution of data, and correlation analysis. Methodological framework is comprised of the societal neo-institutionalism. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of civic activity of residents of the Vologda oblast. The following conclusions were made: the majority of respondents indicate a significant level of untapped political activity, although demonstrate a fairly high level of readiness for mobilization within the framework of civil society, which can be used constructively or destructively with accumulation of unfulfilled political participation. The respondents showed a low engagement rate in social life, which testifies to their untapped mobilization potential; social capital is used in sufficiently. The author draws a link between the level of understanding of authority in the areas of responsibility of the local government branches and the assessment of their activity. The level of understanding of authority is also related to the level of confidence in the head of municipality. Groups of respondents who have such understanding trust the head of municipality the most, and assess the work of the local government branches higher than the other groups. Civil activity of residents of the residents of Vologda Oblast is characterized by the overall high level of readiness to work in social organizations, but at the same time, by low engagement rate in social life.