Julia Roig - Growing Seeds of Civil Society in Russia

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Apr 04, 2014
by Julia Roig
Julia Roig - Growing Seeds of Civil Society in Russia

President of Partners for Democratic Change on the importance of strengthening civil society in Russia Julia Roig (in green) participates in group work at the Russian Civil Society Symposium

As the world focuses on the big geopolitical crisis of Russia and Crimea and the alarming rise in tensions between East and West, I am fortunate to find myself in beautiful Salzburg, Austria getting to know a large group of Russian civil society activists.  

<font color="#0379c6">Salzburg Global Seminar</font> planned this event months ago, and had no idea how timely our meeting would be.  We have not been brought together to talk about cross-border politics or Russia’s relationship with the west, but rather to focus on the state of civil society internally in Russia.  I am struck by the importance of this opportunity to build bridges between Russian activists and international civil society networks to promote openness and moderate political voices at a time of rising tensions on a global scale.

One of the questions raised during our seminar is how helpful we can really be from the outside. <font color="#0379c6">Russian Legislation</font> now requires any domestic non-profit that is receiving funds or support from an international organization to be registered as a “foreign agent.” Non-profits associated with the West therefore carry a strong stigma of suspicion; they are seen as national traitors, even spies.  The State-controlled media characterizes non-profits working openly for social change as disloyal to their country.  Unfortunately,<font color="#0379c6"> public opinion polls</font> show that the majority of Russians agree, and view non-profits with deep mistrust. Since the <font color="#0379c6">wave of public protests</font> unfolded in Russia in 2011, the State has become increasingly more repressive and controlling of civic activism, and is effectively discrediting and systematically intimidating all opposition voices and those working for change in the public sphere.

While there are many definitions of civil society, a useful formulation from the <font color="#0379c6">BBC World Service</font> is, “A civil society is a public space between the state, the market and the ordinary household, in which people can debate and tackle action.”

Government tactics follow familiar global patterns of repression

State tactics in Russia (as described in our meeting) are unfortunately very familiar in autocratic political environments throughout the world.  I find myself reflecting on similar conversations I have had recently with colleagues in the Middle East and Latin America.  There appears to be a playbook that governments are following to repress dissent and opposition:

  1. Politically <font color="#0379c6">monopolize all branches of government</font> so there are no meaningful checks and balances of power;

  2. <font color="#0379c6">Get rid of foreign donors</font>;

  3. <font color="#0379c6">Control the flow of information a</font>nd cut off all independent media;

  4. <font color="#0379c6">Whip up nationalism</font> in the general population and discredit all dissent as tied to a  foreign enemy;

  5. Allow a “civil society sector” to do charity work, but do not allow them to engage in <font color="#0379c6">any kind of advocacy on policies</font> or meaningful social change;

  6. Foster competition and mistrust within the sector by increasing government funding for “loyal” non-profits, and ensure the sector remains divided and conflicted internally.

At the same time, international civil society organizations like Partners for Democratic Change, working side by side with our local partners, are also learning from one another on how to effect change in these closed political environments.  Our Russian colleagues are eager to participate in such international networks to galvanize support for their efforts.

How can we continue to water the seeds of civil society in Russia?

When asked to describe the state of civil society in picture form, a Russian colleague drew a garden with a few small seedlings next to some big ugly plants and a couple of tall, beautiful flowers.  She then drew a watering can that represented national and international support to the sector.  “Don’t forget about us, and help us continue to grow!” (Continuing with the metaphor, a later commentator referred to the State as a lawn mower, warning that they were able to plow down the entire backyard.)

Given the new reality in Russia, how does the watering can need to change?  In addition to the stories of alarming government repression, participants also acknowledged a <font color="#0379c6">flourishing non-profit sector in some regions of the country</font>, and the rise of local-level civic activism throughout Russia.  Over and over again, participants said that civil society in Russia cannot be described in black and white; there is a diversity of colors and experiences on which to build.  Citizens face real practical problems, and they have been organizing to fix them with or without government help or interference. However, these same local leaders would reject the idea that their activism is somehow part of a formal “civic sector,” or linked with the sensationalized national debate on non-profits and foreign agents.

Grassroots civic life or professional non-profits?

The main debate at the seminar has developed along the lines of whether civic initiatives that are organized at a very grassroots level, and focused on social well-being, can be tied to advocacy to influence government policy.  Many have wondered whether professional non-profits should have a stronger role in ensuring that the sector moves beyond just social service delivery, collectively pushing for long-term change and government accountability.  Some regions in Russia have government leaders who are open to interaction with citizens and seek engagement to solve problems within their community.  When this interaction is mostly around social service delivery, and non-profits are predominantly funded by the State, does this really “count” as an independent sector?  It appears that citizen groups are allowed to work closely with regional governments, but only up to a point.  When they start voicing demands or asking their leaders to be accountable, the <font color="#0379c6">engagement is often halted.</font>

The need to create a new narrative about the role that civil society plays in Russia has been stressed repeatedly.  Russian citizens need to feel empowered to make a difference and see themselves as responsible for the direction of their country.  The return to Soviet-style government control has made this societal change all the more difficult, and the systematic discrediting of non-profits and independent journalists has made their work to educate and mobilize citizens ever more difficult.

Professional non-profits in Russia still face many hurdles, including how to build a real audience for their mission and a message about the future of their country.  As the Russian experts have been describing their internal challenges, I am struck by the similarities with <font color="#0379c6">civil society challenges Partners has worked on</font> around the world, including among <font color="#0379c6">Russia’s post-Communist neighbors and former Soviet Republics</font>:

  • How to self-regulate and make sure the sector is <font color="#0379c6">transparent</font> and operates according to clear codes of ethics;

  • How to develop sustainable funding models;

  • How to conduct strategic planning when there is so much political uncertainty;

  • How to hire and maintain good staff and mentor the next generation of leaders;

  • How to be knowledgeable about the sector’s legal requirements and operate according to regulations;

  • How to effectively work in coalition and create networks to have a bigger impact;

  • How to tell their story so that it resonates with the general public and re-builds the reputation and image of non-profits;

  • How to reflect as a sector on the role they play in the national life, with a clear vision of an open society with an organized and responsible citizenry.

As the rhetoric both nationally and internationally heats up, we all have to find ways to reach out to everyday citizens who are concerned about their future and don’t want to continue down a path of divisiveness.

Whether through non-profits, traditional activism, or informal groups that come together to achieve common objectives, the act of participating and doing something can slowly bring about societal change in Russia. Those of us working internationally to support civil society must not forget to keep offering water and sunshine to help grow their efforts.


Julia Roig was a participant of session 531, "Russian Civil Society Symposium: Building Bridges to the Future", which was sponsored by The Yeltsin Foundation. The post was originally posted as part of her online blog at Partners for Democratic Change, which can be found here.