Civic Engagement in Russia: Social Capital, Trust and Collective Action in Urban Governance

Protest rallies that occurred in Russia in 2011-2012 aroused new social groups that used to be apolitical before. When the electoral cycle was over activity of "angry citizens" transformed into variety of local projects in different areas of the public sphere in large cities. Networks of personal ties that have been used for political mobilization of protest activity gradually became the networks of civic initiatives addressing the whole spectrum of urban issues. In our study we trace the process of social capital formation and role of interpersonal and institutional trust in collaboration of actors. We focus on policy networks that involve civic initiatives, NGOs and public authorities in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The main findings reveal the public sphere divide into “political” and “administrative” arenas that have different rules of play and show different strategies used by actors.