Abstract
Anti-corruption advocate Alexei Navalny holds no public office yet he has become Russia’s leading opposition figure and the non-secret target of President Vladimir Putin. Why does the Kremlin specifically target Navalny when he faces institutional exclusion, barriers to entry, limits on non-electoral success, and tactical disadvantages? Scholars have examined Navalny through different lenses but none have asked this exact question or provided all-encompassing answers. This thesis hypothesizes that Navalny poses a distinct threat to Putin and his hold on power. Original content analysis, historical episodes, and other qualitative research help conclude that Navalny threatens Putin due to a strategy that leverages his non-systemic position. Navalny produces resonant populist content, tactically uses the internet and social media, and launches collective actions to foster social movement growth for long-term success. This interdisciplinary study reaches a comprehensive understanding of Navalny’s personal and movement potential under nonideal circumstances, revealing flaws that Putin’s Kremlin unsuccessfully hides. As such, this research synthesizes a framework for holistically evaluating trends and interpreting new developments at an uncertain juncture in Russian politics.