'Civil Society' and 'Orthodox Christianity' in Russia

Abstract

"'Civil society' has been held responsible, at least partly, for the breakdown of 'real socialism' not only in Poland or Hungary, but also in Russia, and it was largely due to the 'revolution of 1989' that 'civil society' regained its position as a major topic in political philosophy.' Civil society became a major slogan and a key concept in western aid programmes that aimed at a reinforcement of civil society as an indepen- dent factor, capable of checking state power in Central and Eastern Europe and in so- called developing countries."