Exploring the Nature and Dynamics of Contemporary Civic Activities in Russia

Despite the crisis of democracy in contemporary Russia, civil society networks and voluntary political participation are rapidly developing. Russian people are increasingly attempting to express their political and social needs in their daily lives, rather than relying on traditional institutions of representation. This study asks what caused the vitalization of grassroots civic activities, but what are the limitations of those civic activities? This study explores the nature and dynamics of contemporary civic activities in Russia, focusing on the factors that have contributed to their growth and the limitations they face in the context of state interactions. The research employs expert survey data collected from 2014 to 2021 to analyze the trends and directions of voluntary initiative groups formed around diverse social agendas. The authors argue that the Internet has significantly influenced Russian civil society by increasing online civic activities and enabling the interconnection between online and offline protests. However, the impact and sustainability of these activities are constrained by state-initiated digital feedback platforms. This study contributes to the understanding of the conditions under which grassroots civic activities can thrive in complex political settings and the role of digital technologies in shaping civil society in Russia. KCI Citation Count: 0