Civil society and the state intertwined: the case of disability NGOs in Russia

Abstract

This article examines state–civil society relationships in contemporary Russia. Its objective is to assess opportunity structures of Russian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are intertwined with the state. The article presents qualitative data from fieldwork in the Russian cities of Moscow, St Petersburg, Nizhniy Novgorod, and Perm in 2009 and 2010. The focus of NGOs in the field of disability was chosen because of their roles as social service providers and as advocates for the rights of the disabled. The findings indicate that despite the Soviet legacy of an occupying state, Russian NGOs widen their opportunities by maintaining close relationships with state structures. Thus, litigation strategies seem to be an effective instrument for fostering social change for the benefit of the disabled.

Keywords:

• civil society
• state
• disability
• NGO
• Russia

Acknowledgements

The research was undertaken with support of a dissertation research grant by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. I am most grateful to Kerstin Jacobsson and Steven Saxonberg for their tremendous support and their fruitful critique of this article. I would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful and contributing comments.

Notes

See Katsui (2005) on Central Asia; Holland (2003) on Central Europe (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland); Phillips (2009) on the Ukraine; and Thomson (2006) on Russia.

This is, of course, far from representative of the entire sector of disability NGOs. Rather, the aim of this study is to illustrate certain characteristics of Russian civil society in the sphere of disability.

The Public Chamber (Obshchestvennaia Palata Rossiiskoi Federatsii) consists of 126 notable members of Russian society, which are chosen for a four-year term. For an insightful analysis, see Richter (2009).

For example, the ‘International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health’ (ICF) (World Health Organization 2001).

For an excellent overview of the literature, see Cirtautas and Schimmelfennig (2010).

Vserossiiskoe Obshchestvo Invalidov.

The text of the convention and more information are available at: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=14&pid=150 [Accessed 4 October 2011).

Most often, they are referred to as GONGOs (government-orientated non-governmental organisations).

The interview was conducted on 19 March 2009 in Moscow.

This interview was conducted on 26 March 2009 in St Petersburg.

Henry (2006) also observes them in her examination of Russian environmental organisations).

This interview was conducted on 5 March 2009 in Moscow.