The Role of the All-Russia “People’s Front — for Russia” in Developing Civil Society in the Region

Abstract

The article finds out the main directions of activity of the All-Russia social movement People’s Front For Russia (All-Russia People’s Front) in implementing principles of civil society on a regional level. The main research objectives are as follows: finding out the main activities of the All-Russian People’s Front in Russia and the Republic of Udmurt; defining the main ways of activists’ identification with civil society. The specific of Russian civil society is the enhanced state control of the ‘third sector. As a result, there emerge organizations, which identify themselves as the mediator between the state and civil society. Despite the close linkage with the state, they accumulate civic activity and exercise public control. Among these organizations is the All-Russian People’s Front. It was founded in 2011 on the initiative of Vladimir Putin. As methods of empirical analysis, the authors exploited the content analysis of websites, social network VKontakte, and semi-structured interviews with leaders and activists of the movement. The main activities of the Udmurt regional branch include addressing the following problems: housing and public utilities; constructions; improvement of territories; educational and environmental projects; youth policy, etc. Active social position, the attractiveness of the movement’s goals in solving the problems of regional development determine the activists’ motivation of being involved in the cause. They indicated the realization of principles of civil society in the framework of All-Russian People’s Front activities such as the development of civic activeness, public control, volunteering, and improving social trust. By consolidating political and public resources, the movement integrates civil society into a vertical of authority. By Representing and protecting public interests, this cause becomes an effective mediator between the state and civil society.