Transformation of Civil Society Organization Functions in Modern Russia

Ch. 23. P. 333–347.

Jakobson L. I., Mersiyanova I. V.

This chapter investigates the transformational processes in Russian civil society through the lens of the functional approach proceeding from the perception of civil society as a sphere of human activities beyond family, state, and market, which carries a number of specifc functions: social engagement, mobilization, articulation, service, control, and protection. The study draws on the empirical data of the nationwide monitoring of civil society which has been conducted by the Centre for Studies of Civil Society and the Nonproft Sector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics since 2006. The most noticeable change has occurred in the service function of the civil society in Russia. More than 15 years of observations have shown that the transformation processes in the Russian civil society put its service function to the fore. Russia’s government adopted measures promoting nonproft organization (NPO) involvement in social service to facilitate their entry into the market of social service providers. The institutionalization of the relations between public organizations and NPOs providing services in the social sphere is currently underway in Russia, including measures such as the right of certifed nonproft providers to receive government grants (subsidies) for service provision.

Keywords: civil society, Nonprofit organizations (NPOs), NPO service functions, Social service NPOs, Civil society functions

Publication based on the results of: The Monitoring of the state of civil society (Wave 17) (2022)

In book

Civil Society: Concepts, Challenges, Contexts: Essays in Honor of Helmut K. Anheier

Springer, 2022.