Social activism in Russia and Ukraine

The high level of the confrontation in the Ukrainian society drives out the practices of the public activism into the political sphere. Moreover, because of the fatigue from politicians and other public activity, the Ukrainian society will turn to mass depoliticization and to decline of social activism. The main obstacle to the development of the social activism in Russia is on-going expansion of the state into the previously uncontrolled or poorly controlled areas. A considerable part of the population supports this expansion, giving a high level of trust to institutions, embodying the political course (first of all, to the presidential authority). Such paternalistic attitudes allow citizens taking off a significant responsibility for situation in their cities, in the state and thereby undermine public activism, not sanctioned from above.