Editorial Introduction

The two case studies of Part IV are based on interviews with poor, disadvantaged families in Lahore (Pakistan) and Cincinnati (United States). These analyses in the sociocultural and welfare dimension address the subjective experiences of how the lockdowns resulting from COVID-19 impacted the quality of the circumstances of their daily lives. The analyses of Part III primarily also were oriented around the sociocultural and welfare dimension. They, among others, regarded the impact of the pandemic on community resilience and agency in the United Kingdom and Germany to sustain supportive networks in their respective “civil societies.” By also exploring political “civic activism” and the impact on “democratic resilience,” the observations and discussions here though have become primarily focused on the sociopolitical and legal dimension.

The Case of Germany

Has the pandemic weakened civil society and hindered activism and volunteering due to long-lasting restrictions and bans on meetings, protests, and the like? Or have civil society actors been able to respond to these fundamental changes? This is explored here in the case of Germany. Neither weakness nor strength can be deemed a clear outcome of the pandemic for civil society, but different levels of resilience mark opportunities for civil society to overcome the pandemic. Resilience also affects democracy; therefore, the development of civil society during and after the pandemic is investigated in terms of how it has influenced democracy in Germany. This article is based on findings on civic activism resulting from long-term surveys and volunteering conducted prior to the pandemic, together with present and preliminary observations.

Editorial Introduction

In the following studies, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the resilience of communities and the formation of civic activism in Germany and the United Kingdom is analyzed and discussed. In the German study, the expected impact on existing volunteer organizations is explored. In the UK study, by analyzing quantitative data pertaining to (about the determinants of ) different categories of mutual aid groups (MAGs) interpretations are made concerning resilience, agility, and civic activist potentialities.

Cultural practices of creative unions in the development of civil society

The purpose of the article is to investigate the impact of creative unions on the culture of civil society based on the cultural practices they have created. Methodology. Interdisciplinary study of the problem is based on the application of methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization, systematization in accordance with the cultural discourse. The historiographical method made it possible to critically comprehend the publications of scholars on our stated topics; the historical method made it possible to outline the origins, way of life, and transformation of creative unions in the context of the corresponding cultural environment. Scientific novelty work is to identify the civic potential of cultural practices of creative unions. Conclusions. Systematization of further activity of creative unions is represented by the following cases: content-filling - cultural mission of creative unions is aimed at forming a modern cultural space of Ukraine; thematic-ascertaining - relevance and multi-vector characterizes the themes of cultural practices, these are events of patriotic, civic, national, ecological, charitable, artistic and aesthetic orientation; formative - cultural initiatives of creative unions are represented by formative diversity: exhibitions, openings, installations, happenings, performances, plein airs, biennials, master classes, etc.; organizational and cluster - cooperation of creative unions with united territorial communities with the use of civic activism of the population for the purpose of cultural development of local territories and creation of logos by designers; art-therapeutic - we recommend directing the activity of creative unions to rehabilitation cultural practices for participants of anti-terrorist operation, environmental protection, people with special needs, victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns; educational - in quarantine it is advisable to intensify the activities of creative unions online. This approach will make the process of cultural creation of civil society effective, involving broad sections of the population.

Who wants technocrats? A comparative study of citizen attitudes in nine young and consolidated democracies

Technocratic cabinets and expert, non-political ministers appointed in otherwise partisan cabinets have become a common reality in recent decades in young and older democracies, but we know little about how citizens see this change and what values, perceptions and experiences drive their attitudes towards technocratic government. The article explores the latter topic by drawing on recent comparative survey data from nine countries, both young and consolidated democracies from Europe and Latin America. Two individual-level characteristics trigger particularly strong support for the replacement of politicians with experts: low political efficacy and authoritarian values. They are complemented by a third, somewhat weaker factor: corruption perception. At the macro level, technocracy appeals to citizens of countries where the quality of democracy is deficient and where technocratic cabinets are a part of historical legacy. Surprisingly, civic activism and, partially, satisfaction with democracy enhance technocratic orientation, indicating such attitudes are not expressions of alienation or depoliticisation.

Правовая помощь в мечетях Центральной России: между гражданским активизмом и бюрократией

This article examines the phenomenon of legal aid provided by mosques for Muslims in the regions of Central Russia. The case study is based on examples of mosques in Yaroslavl and Kostroma. This article investigates whether such practices are symptoms of the bureaucratization of mosques and Islam, or manifestations of civic activism in the Muslim community in modern Russia? Based on empirical data collected during observations and interviews in Yaroslavl and Kostroma in 2018–2019, it concludes that cases of legal consultations in mosques illustrate the intersection of two logics at the same time, namely, bureaucratization and the expression of civic identity for Muslims. Moreover, the author argues that there is no insoluble contradiction between these logics, despite the use of the concepts of bureaucracy and activism in everyday language.

Navigating Civic Space in a Time of Covid: Synthesis Report

Since long before the Covid-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, civic space has been changing all over the globe, generally becoming more restricted and hazardous. The pandemic brought the suspension of many fundamental freedoms in the name of the public good, providing cover for a deepening of authoritarian tendencies but also spurring widespread civic activism on issues suddenly all the more important, ranging from emergency relief to economic impacts. Research partners in the Action for Empowerment and Accountability (A4EA)'s Navigating Civic Space in a Time of Covid project have explored these dynamics through real-time research embedded in civil society in Mozambique, Nigeria, and Pakistan, grounded in a close review of global trends.