The changes of the western civil society theories in Russian socio-political reality

The article discusses the emergence and the development of liberal thought in Europe during the Enlightenment, starting from the first ideas of Thomas Hobbes in the mid-17th century in England right to the Great French Revolution of the late 18th century. The evolution of civil society is traced from the formation of its institutions based on civil communication to the emergence of its tension with state and up to the erosion of the idea of civil society and human rights as a politically powerful principle. Parallels are drawn in the transformation of these concepts in Western and Russian socio-political contexts. As a result, perhaps this shows the directions for solving some problems, which Russia faces today. The author notes the strong influence of liberal Western thought on major reformers throughout Russian history. However, he emphasizes that a simple mechanical copying of Western experience did not take into account the basic unit of Russian society organization that, according to the author, is the power. Power in Russia is described as a special phenomenon that, when functioning normally, stands above the law and is its source. This has always been an obstacle to the introduction and progression of the liberal principles so typical for Western societies. Thus, the maximum that remains possible between the state and civil society in Russia is cooperation. The request to strengthen civil society finds its response in the appropriate actions of the political leadership: they are supporting civil initiatives, amending legislation, reducing distance and entering into dialogue.