Taking Stock of Changing State-Society Relationships
2011–12 was a turbulent
time in Russia. Anger over the falsified
elections to the State Duma on December 4 brought masses of people into the
streets, calling for honest elections and rule
of law. Participants were drawn largely
from Moscow’s youth, creative intelligentsia, and the middle class, and the protests
were mainly peaceful. Indignation found a
novel and explosive outlet in the country’s
rapidly emerging social media. Momentum
was kept up through a bitterly cold winter,
well into the spring and the May 7 presi-
The winter of
dential inauguration. For a time it looked
like a “snow revolution” was in the making
and that the regime would be compelled
to meet the civil society’s demands.
beliefs, values and expectations cannot be
undone. Getting the genie back into the
bottle will not be possible.
of the present conference is to take stock of what happened, of
where we are at present and of what may
follow. An interdisciplinary group of distinguished international experts are brought
together for two days of sessions to discuss
political processes, social movements, prospects for the rule of law, the role of social
media and institutional dynamics.
The main purpose
the political status quo has
been preserved for at least another year.
The regime has rolled out a comprehensive program to counter the opposition,
and no longer appears willing to enter into
dialogue. But Russia is not the same – the
contours of a vibrant civil society may
have emerged, and the transformation of
In reality
An international conference organized by Uppsala Centre for Russian and Eurasian
Studies (UCRS), Uppsala University 6–7 Sept 2013
When: 6–7 September, 2013
Where: September 6: Brusewitzsalen, Gamla Torget 6
September 7: Main University Building, Hall IX
Contact: Jevgenija Gehsbarga, [email protected], to sign up to attend
Stefan Hedlund, [email protected], for more information
Please visit our website www.ucrs.uu.se to find out more about the event. The conference is free of charge.
Valentine Egorshin
Russia’s Winter of Discontent