Civil Society Social Change and a New Popular Education in Russia

<p><em>Civil Society Social Change and a New Popular Education in Russia </em>is a detailed account of contemporary issues that draws upon recent survey research conducted by the Institute of Sociology Russian Academy of Sciences as well as from secondary published work in both Russian and English. The book explores how social change and developments in civil society are occurring in Russia and the role played by a new popular education. The right to lifelong learning is guaranteed by the Russian state as it was by the Soviet Union where formal education based on communist ideology emphasised the needs of the state over those of individuals. In practice a wide range of educational needs many of which relate to coping with changing economic social and technological circumstances are being met by non-governmental providers including commercial companies self-help groups and community and neighbourhood clubs. This book discusses how this <i>new popular education</i> is both an example of developing civil society and stimulates its further development. However as the book points out it is also part of a growing educational divide where motivated articulate people take advantage of new opportunities while disadvantaged groups such as the unemployed and the rural poor continue to be excluded. </p>