A comparative analysis of internet technologies in Russian political campaigning during the 2011 and 2016 elections

Nowadays, the Internet is a huge part of people’s lives. Virtual network is one of the primary means of communication. People communicate, learn, and discuss events in virtual space. Political forces cannot ignore the impact of Internet technologies on voters’ electoral preferences. The Internet plays a significant role both as a source of information about elections and as an election campaign arena of political parties and candidates in any election campaign. The study discusses the methods of using Internet technologies for political campaigning in Russia during the legislative elections of 2011 and 2016. Based on the comparative analysis, the authors reveal the main trends in using virtual network by political forces in the Russian Federation.