ECMI Researcher Viktoria Aygül Presents on Russian-Speakers in Latvia at ECPR Standing Group Conference
Our researcher, Viktoria Aygül, took part in the 2025 Conference of the ECPR Standing Group on Extremism and Democracy, held from 9 to 10 June at Queen Mary University of London.
This timely academic gathering, titled "New and Old Challenges of Populism and Radicalism", brought together a community of researchers investigating political extremism, democratic backsliding, and populism. The conference featured over 60 panels with an estimated 240 presentations from scholars across diverse disciplines and regions.
Viktoria contributed to the panel on "Perception and Support for Democracy" with her presentation titled:
"Between Two Worlds? Russian-Speakers in Latvia and Their Perceptions of Democracy"
Her research focuses on how Russian-speaking communities in Latvia perceive democracy and trust political institutions in the context of post-Soviet legacies, ongoing integration challenges, and the geopolitical impact of the war in Ukraine. The presentation highlighted the role of ethnicity in shaping political attitudes in multiethnic societies but moved beyond ethnic identity to consider additional variables such as economic status, generational divides, media consumption, and regional differences (e.g., Latgale vs. Riga).
One of the key points raised was the intra-group variation among Russian speakers in Latvia. While younger generations demonstrate greater democratic engagement, older cohorts often express nostalgia for more autocratic governance models. Viktoria also explored the consequences of de-Russification policies and growing social polarization in Latvian society.
The paper relies on a representative survey dataset comparing Russian speakers and ethnic Latvians, aiming to uncover how integration policies and institutional trust contribute to democratic stability in Latvia.
In doing so, her presentation emphasized the importance of a nuanced, intersectional approach to understanding democratic participation in diverse societies—a perspective that aligns with ECMI’s broader mission of fostering minority rights and participation across Europe.
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