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An Assessment of Russian Civil Society (2005)

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An Assessment of Russian Civil Society (2005) An Assessment of Russian Civil Society (2005) CIVICUS CIVIL SOCIETY INDEX REPORT FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION L. Proskuryakova’, Е. Vandisheva – St. Petersburg “Strategy” Center; N. Belyaeva, Е. Bychkova – State University – Higher School of Economics, 2005 St. Petersburg Center for Humanities and Political Studies “Strategy” in collaboration with the Departments of Public Policy of the Moscow State University – Higher School of Economics CIVICUS Civil Society Index Short Assessment Tool (CSI-SAT) An international action-research project coordinated by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation 1 FOREWORD The CSI-SAT in Russia was carried out by the National coordinating organisation in Russia - St. Petersburg “Strategy” Center in cooperation with the Moscow State University-Higher School of Economics. St. Petersburg “Strategy” Center was created in 1993 with the mission to provide “Assistance in establishment of civil society and constitutional state in Russia through implementing projects and programs aimed at development of public participation, social partnership and responsibility of the authorities”. Nowadays, “Strategy” Center is itself developed into a full- fledged resource and support center for public policy centers in Russia and abroad. St. Petersburg “Strategy” Centre is a member of CIVICUS and other international civil society networks. “Strategy” Centre is the only one in the North-West and one of few in Russia relatively steadily functioning public policy centre sustaining independence from authorities and corporate interests. “Strategy” Centre has been a politically non-partisan organisation since its date of establishment, independent of political forces, and does not engage in election campaign activities, for the same reason. Current programs of “Strategy” Center include: 1. “Ombudsman and Human Rights” Program (Promotion of the Institute of Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) in and Human Rights Awareness Rising) 2. “Corruption Prevention” Program (Development and Implementation of Systemic Measures on Corruption Prevention through Joint Work of NGOs, Authorities and Business) 3. “Transparent Budget” Program (Development of Public Participation in Budget Process) 4. Program “Development of Public Policy and Centers for Public Policy” (CPP) The work has been carried out by Liliana Proskuryakova, Head of international unit of the “Strategy” Center and Alena Vandisheva, intern and then lawyer of the “Strategy” Center. Important contributions – results of field work from Russian towns were made by the Public Policy Department of the Moscow State University – Higher School of Economics (HSE). Department of Mathematics of HSE contributed with a model to evaluate and interpret the results of field work. The current report is by all means not a comprehensive picture of the dynamic and colorful civil society mosaics, varying from region to region in more than 80 subjects of the Russian Federation. However, it is a good starting point for a discussion on strengthening, networking and cooperation processes within the broader civil society and among all stakeholders. Liliana Proskuryakova Head of International Unit St. Petersburg “Strategy” Center CIVICUS Civil Society Index Report for Russia 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Civil Society Index (CSI) project using the CSI’s Shortened Assessment Tool (CSI-SAT) was carried out by St. Petersburg “Strategy” Center in cooperation with the Departments of Public Policy and Mathematics of the Moscow State University – Higher School of Economics. The project’s approach and research methodology was developed by the international non-governmental organisation CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation. At various stages most notable input into the report through the provision of information materials was made by the Carnegie Moscow Center, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Democracy Initiatives (Survey 2004), WCIOM: All Russia Centre of Public Opinion Research, Perm Civic Chamber, the NGO Development Center of Moscow, Transparency International – Russia, Coalition “We, Citizens!”, Inter-regional civil society foundation Siberian Center for the Support of Civic Initiatives, Center for Democracy and Human Rights, Information for Democracy Foundation (INDEM), various institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Moscow Office and Moscow International Business Association and many others. I would also like to thank the CSI team at CIVICUS, especially Kumi Naidoo and Volkhart Finn Heinrich, for their support and understanding throughout the project. L. Proskuryakova St. Petersburg “Strategy” Center February 2006 CIVICUS Civil Society Index Report for Russia 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ...............................................................................................................................................................1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................................................................2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ...............................................................................................................................................3 TABLES AND FIGURES ..............................................................................................................................................4 LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................................5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................7 I CIVIL SOCIETY INDEX SHORTENED ASSESMENT TOOL APPROACH ................................................10 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................................................10 2. PROJECT APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY .........................................................................................................11 II CIVIL SOCIETY IN RUSSIA...........................................................................................................................15 1. SPECIAL FEATURES OF RUSSION CIVIL SOCIETY ................................................................................................15 2. CONCEPT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN RUSSIA ..............................................................................................................17 III ANALYSIS OF CIVIL SOCIETY ...................................................................................................................19 1. STRUCTURE ........................................................................................................................................................19 1.1 The Extent of Citizen Participation in Civil Society........................................................................................19 1.2 Depth of Citizen Participation in Civil Society ...............................................................................................24 1.3 Diversity of Civil Society Participants ............................................................................................................25 1.4 Level of Organisation ......................................................................................................................................26 1.5 Inter-Relations within Civil Society ................................................................................................................29 1.6 Civil Society Resources...................................................................................................................................29 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................................31 2. ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................................................33 2.1 Political Context ..............................................................................................................................................33 2.2 Basic Rights and Freedoms .............................................................................................................................37 2.3 Socio-economic Context..................................................................................................................................41 2.4 Socio-cultural Context.....................................................................................................................................44 2.5 Legal Environment ..........................................................................................................................................46 2.6 State-civil Society Relations............................................................................................................................50 2.7 Private Sector - civil Society Relations ...........................................................................................................54 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................................57 3. VALUES ..............................................................................................................................................................59
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