“Hard times” as an Incentive for Unity and Development of Civil Society in Russia

Purpose. The main purpose of writing the work were to study the changes that occurred in the activities of the modern civil society after the start of the Special Military Operation (SVO), characterize the activities and determine the role of patriotic public opinion leaders (telegram channels, military correspondents) in the ongoing transformation processes. Method. This study used the analytical method (studying the essence and effectiveness of the interaction between Internet platforms and the structure of civil society), the historical method (studying the history of the formation of Russian civil society), and the deductive method (recognizing telegram channels as informing, stimulating and agitating, as well as their mediating role between society and power). Conclusions. During the research, the main processes occurring in the institutions of civil society and the directions of information and activities of popular patriotic Internet platforms were identified. When conducting an analysis and analogy of social processes stimulated by SVO, and the characteristics of educational, propaganda and organizational publications in telegram channels, similar features of these social phenomena were identified, as a result of which a conclusion was made about the relationship between civil society and the activities of leading patriotic telegram channels and LOMs as general and private accordingly, in recognizing the latter as an institution of civil society. The author has suggested that the process of formation of civil society in Russia received unprecedented stimulation with the beginning of the SVO, while it is largely directed by the activities of opinion leaders and patriotic telegram channels, which in turn are both the result and the stimulus (locomotive) for the development of Russian civil society. Practical use. As a result of the study, theoretical information regarding the institutions of civil society was expanded, a new and promising direction in the development and management of the activities of civil society in Russia was proven, which can be used in its further study. Social consequences. A study of the effectiveness of the activities of telegram channels/LOMs not only in terms of informing the population, but also in implementing the functions of stimulating and organizing public life and their recognition as part of civil society states the significance of this social phenomenon, which, in turn, stimulates the attention of society to this type of activity and prolongs its comprehensive development. Originality. The presented work is intended for the scientific community, students of humanities faculties, and the public interested in the problems of the development of civil society in general and Russian society in particular.

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