According to sociologist Lev Gudkov, director of the Yuri Levada Analytical Center from 2006 to 2021, who was declared a «foreign agent» by the Russian Ministry of Justice, waves of public enthusiasm and disappointment in Russia have little to do with understanding the state of society and the government. They are fueled by other sources — hopes, illusions, outrage, or a sense of pride and collective unity. Such attitudes are persistent because they come from internal motivations rather than knowledge. But that is why they are so important for analyzing the peculiarities of society and its interaction with the state. There are many reasons to speak about «how we understand and explain the current situation».
The book was written on the basis of lectures delivered by the author at seminars of the School of Civic Education.