Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Civil society, environment and Russian politics post-1991 -- 2. Russia's environmental challenges and their management -- 3. Environmental civil society through Russian eyes : stakeholder views -- 4. Case studies and their insights into civil society growth : Lake Baikal, Chelyabinsk and genetically modified food -- 5. Interpreting civil society : challenges, change and environmental significance -- 6. Conclusions : the bad, the good and the uncertain.

The authors, renowned experts in the field, explore efforts to develop a mature civil society in Russia, and analyse the policy views of environmental groups, the media, and the scientific community. Three important case studies underpin the study: suspended plans to build an oil pipeline near Lake Baikal; management of Cold War-generated radioactive waste at Chelyabinsk; and public reaction to the introduction of genetically modified foods. The conclusion is that although civil society groups face obstacles in the form of apathy, state-imposed constraints on their activities, and agency reluctance to confer on decisions, there are some successes in reversing decisions due in part to NGO pressures yielding reform.