Soviet Union: A Civil Society

Postmaterialism and the Emerging Soviet Democracy

“…We have elsewhere documented the unexpectedly high level of support for a host of democratic values among ordinary Soviet citizens (e.g., Gibson and Duch 1993a;Gibson, Duch, and Tedin 1992), and some long-time observers of Soviet political culture agree (e.g., Starr 1988). At the same time, we do not perceive democratization in the USSR as necessarily emanating from demands from the mass public.…”

The two faces of environmental justice: Lessons from the eco‐nationalist phenomenon

“…Prior to the introduction of Mikhail Gorbachev's programme of perestroika, the communist regime had fiercely guarded its monopoly control over the public realm, extinguishing all opportunity for politically meaningful freedom of speech and association. With Gorbachev's commitment to reforming the system came new opportunities and spaces for independent speech and activism [Lapidus, 1989;Starr, 1988]. As part of the unraveling of communist control over Soviet society, it is not surprising that the social movements that emerged during the 1985-91 period differed somewhat from their western counterparts [Smith, 1996;Fish, 1991;Dawson, 1993].…”

Regime Transition in Communist Systems: The Soviet Case

“…Fred Starr, for example, claims that urbanization, the dispersion of professional skill, the penetration of a variety of communications technologies {that enable people to associate as autonomous and equal individuals), and the enormous evasion of state structures (through informal mechanisms of economic coordination and cultural expression) had already established the outlines of a civil society. Reform under Gorbachev has meant no more than clearing away the bureaucratic impediments to a liberal society (Starr, 1988(Starr, , 1989. Moshe Lewin (1988) reinforced that view by highlighting the informal but sturdy milieux both within and outside official structures that sustained independent public opinion and behavior.…”

“…According to Starr (1989) and Mickiewicz (1988), new communications technologies facilitate links among individuals and groups that subvert the regime's controls over the dissemination of information. That much said, however, it is still necessary to inquire into the role of new communications links (newspapers, journals, news services, broadcast organizations, publishing houses, newsletters, private schools, etc.)…”