civil society in 2024 Russia: the study
A strong civil society relies on non-governmental forms of solidarity, the capacity for collective action, and a commitment to humanistic values. These principles underpin modern democracies.
Since the 1990s, independent civil society organizations, volunteer initiatives, human rights groups, and other forms of civic activity have emerged in Russia. They have helped address social issues, supported vulnerable groups, and upheld public interests. Since the early 2000s, and in particular following the adoption of the «foreign agents» law in 2012, independent civil society organizations have faced increasing pressure from the authorities.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine dramatically reshaped the work of independent civil society organizations in Russia. Many have faced repression, forced emigration, and financial difficulties; those who remain work under conditions of constant risk and atomization.
Even before the war, a «scorched earth» narrative was widespread in academic and public discourse: civil society had been destroyed, it was dead, and activism no longer existed.
To us it is obvious that civil society in Russia is far from dead.
about the project
The full text of our study will be published in the summer of 2025. Here we share the main findings. Please reach out if you wish to discuss our fundings, share your observations, or request data to advocate for funding Russian civil society.
the challenge is to understand its structures under autocracy, war, and political repression, without imposing preconceived notions of what civil society ought to look like.
keywords: civil society, solidarity, NGOs, third sector, grassroots initiatives, human rights advocacy, activism
-
To study communities and initiatives spanning a broad geography, a variety of activity areas, and different levels of institutionalization, focusing on:
-
New challenges and risks under conditions of war and repression
-
Successful and unsuccessful practices
-
Adaptation and innovation strategies
-
Current demands and needs
-
Criteria for viability and resilience
-
-
To develop recommendations for supporting civil society as a whole and for the initiatives themselves.
-
To produce a forecast of possible scenarios for civil society development during 2025.
We aim to disseminate our findings about the Russian civil society internationally to support the development of effective policy and funding strategies.
research objectives
-
To study communities and initiatives spanning a broad geography, a variety of activity areas, and different levels of institutionalization, focusing on:
-
New challenges and risks under conditions of war and repression
-
Successful and unsuccessful practices
-
Adaptation and innovation strategies
-
Current demands and needs
-
Criteria for viability and resilience
-
-
To develop recommendations for supporting civil society as a whole and for the initiatives themselves.
-
To produce a forecast of possible scenarios for civil society development during 2025.
We aim to disseminate our findings about the Russian civil society internationally to support the development of effective policy and funding strategies.
-
To study communities and initiatives spanning a broad geography, a variety of activity areas, and different levels of institutionalization, focusing on:
-
New challenges and risks under conditions of war and repression
-
Successful and unsuccessful practices
-
Adaptation and innovation strategies
-
Current demands and needs
-
Criteria for viability and resilience
-
-
To develop recommendations for supporting civil society as a whole and for the initiatives themselves.
-
To produce a forecast of possible scenarios for civil society development during 2025.
We aim to disseminate our findings about the Russian civil society internationally to support the development of effective policy and funding strategies.
