Democratization in Russia Under Gorbachev, 1985-91 The Birth of a Voluntary Sector

Self-help organizations and charities were the most numerous, but least studied of pressure groups to emerge during perestroika. This work examines the social exclusion experienced before 1985 by non-working citizens; studies the pre-1985 disabled people's movement and its numerous unofficial, but non-dissident organizations; discusses why the Gorbachev leadership adopted the non-Soviet concept of charity; analyzes the failure of local authorities after 1985 to stave off pluralism and defeat the voluntary organizations; and assesses how successfully the latter built the foundations of a civil society.