Russian civil society in 1917 (on the example of Perm province)

The article describes the state of the basic elements of civil society before and during the events of 1917 They occur in the preceding period, in the course of reforms 60-70-ies of the 19 century Strategic reason for them was the system of local government in the face of the provincial agencies and municipal governments. Possessing economic independence from state structures, they become a reliable basis to support various public organizations and associations acting as the main channels of civic engagement. During subsequent development, there is a complication and increasing the number and zones of influence of civil society organizations. With the outbreak of the First world war, these new organizations represented not only economic and social structure of the country in terms of war (the Military-industrial committees, the all-Russian County Union, all-Russian Union of cities), but also influenced the further complication of system of civil relations. After the February revolution of 1917 radically changed the nature of the work of the provincial institutions and city government, which began a gradual transition from the system of civil society in the sphere of political relations. The work assesses the performance of the public safety Committees created during the revolution as integrated centers of civil activity of the population. The author enters into polemics with a number of researchers, who see in these new structures, the alternative of confrontation in the struggle for power between the Soviets and the Provisional government. The conclusion about the fundamental inability of these public safety Committees to act as a new political force in the country.