Publication

This commentary looks at the third sector in Russia, i.e. the civil society structures – independent from the state – under Russian president Vladimir Putin. The authors argue that the Russian government pursues a policy against non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to deprive the public of structures for self-organization, protection of civil rights and the means of controlling the ever-more authoritarian government. They conclude that the expected economic long-term stagnation and the related sociopolitical risks in the country are likely to make the government's repressive policy even more entrenched, since NGOs are treated as a potential hotbed of public unrest.