Russian Civil Society: A Critical Assessment: A Critical Assessment [Paperback]

A vibrant civil society - characterized by the independently organized activity of people as citizens, undirected by state authority - is an essential support for the development of freedom, democracy, and prosperity. Thus it has been one important indicator of the success of post-communist transitions. This volume undertakes a systematic analysis of the development of civil society in post-Soviet Russia. An introduction and two historical chapters provide background, followed by chapters that analyze the Russian context and consider the roles of the media, business, organized crime, the church, the village, and the Putin administration in shaping the terrain of public life. Eight case studies then illustrate the range and depth of actual citizen organizations in various national and local community settings, and a concluding chapter weighs the findings and distills comparisons and conclusions.Undertakes an analysis of the development of civil society in post-Soviet Russia. This book analyzes the Russian context and considers the roles of the media, business, organized crime, the church, the village, and the Putin administration in shaping the terrain of public life.Part 1 Russian Civil Society; Chapter 1 Introduction, Laura A. Henry, Lisa McIntosh Sundstrom; Part I The History of Civil Society in Russia; Chapter 2 Civil Society in Late Imperial Russia, Mary Schaeffer Conroy; Chapter 3 Civil Society in the Soviet Union?, Alfred B.EvansJr; Part II The Context of Civil Society Development; Chapter 4 Media, Civil Society, and the Failure of the Fourth Estate in Russia, Sarah Oates; Chapter 5 Business and Civil Society in Russia, Peter Rutland; Chapter 6 Organized Crime Groups, Louise Shelley; Chapter 7 The Church and Civil Society in Russia, Edwin Bacon; Chapter 8 Civil Society in Rural Russia, Stephen K. Wegren; Chapter 9 Vladimir Putins Design for Civil Society, Alfred B.EvansJr.; Part III Civil Society in Contemporary Russia: Case Studies; Chapter 10 Womens OrganilC‚