"Europeanization, Pre-emption, Revolution: NGOs and Volunteering in Former Soviet Union Countries"

Abstract

Comparative studies have focused on differences in volunteering in democratic governance regimes; however less attention has been paid to factors affecting volunteering in the former Soviet Union (FSU) countries. Drawing on social origins theory, we analyze how various political trajectories have affected patterns of volunteering in six FSU countries. Using the European Values Study (1999 and 2008), we found that the Baltic States have experienced an in increase in volunteering, while in Russia and Belarus volunteering has declined, with exception of trade unions in the latter. In Ukraine, despite the Orange Revolution, volunteering has also declined in all but political organizations.